Emergency Preparedness

From Manufacturing.Net, July 2007

Disasters come in many shapes and all sizes, which is why those who prepare for them prefer the term “emergency.” What may be a disaster for one organization may be a major inconvenience for another, but both groups will still treat them as emergencies.

In the context of the business world, the Federal Emergency Management Agency defines an emergency as “any unplanned event that can cause deaths or significant injuries to employees, customers or the public; or that can shut down your business, disrupt operations, cause physical or environmental damage, or threaten the facility’s financial standing or public image.”

Rather a broad definition, and thankfully emergencies do not happen very often. However, they DO happen, often at the most inconvenient times.

Those who have the responsibility of dealing with the emergency, the subsequent clean-up, and transition back to normal operations are always faced with sleep deprivation, time away from home, and nearly unbearable stress. Camping out in the parking lot without plumbing, eating Meals Ready To Eat (MRE’s), and working 16 hours a day is not a project many would willingly accept . . . read more here