Protecting Worker Safety and Health Today
An essential component of every strategic facility plan, and an important aspect of a Facility Manager’s job, is ensuring employees’ safety and health in their workplace. While no environment is completely safe, the Violence Project cites that mass shootings are more frequent and deadlier than in recent history.
As of December 1, 2022, there have been 617 mass shootings in the US, and even four months into 2023, there have been at least 146 – more mass shootings than days in the year so far. Within the workplace, there have been 53 mass shootings between 1966 and 2022 – 70% involving employee termination.
According to Ready.gov, your emergency plan should include four protective actions for life safety: Evacuation, Sheltering, Shelter-in-Place, and Lockdown. Each of these actions protects employees from various hazards within the building. For example, if there is a fire or chemical spill, the building occupants should evacuate or relocate to a safe area, but if there is a weather emergency, like a tornado, everyone should be on lockdown in an area of the building away from any glass or exterior windows.
What Systems and Products Can Help Prepare Your Organization to Take Protective Action?
- Secure your building at each entry point.
Controlling access to a building or office space allows only employees or authorized visitors to enter a space. This can be done using a card access system or phone app. Using video surveillance systems can also give you peace of mind when it comes to security. This allows observance of activity throughout the facility in real time and the ability to record activity for forensic purposes and review.
- Install micro-layered, tear-resistant film or Impact Protection Attachment Systems on Glass Windows or Walls.
While they may not be completely bullet-proof, they can provide much-needed time to slow down a perpetrator until help arrives. Depending on the business, bullet-resistant glass can be installed for windows and doors.
- Utilize Mass Notification Systems (MNS) to enable communications with large groups.
With a wide range of technologies available today, an IT team can easily set up electronic messaging notifications to each employee’s phone and email.
- Provide Signage and Wayfinding to provide clear direction around the building.
People need to know where to meet, where to exit, and where to shelter as quickly as possible, which can make all the difference during an emergency. Select signage that is best for the space that meets any required building code standards.
We want you to feel safe at work, and we know that having a plan and the right systems and products is vital to protecting the people essential to your company’s success. HF Planners understands the realities of today’s workplace, and we can help you meet a full spectrum of needs. Our skilled team of workplace strategists will work with you to identify areas and ways to incorporate an Emergency Preparedness plan into your facility.
Contact us today to learn how to create a strategic facility plan, including planning for any emergency.
