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What would you do if all the power went out in your house or workplace? What is your first step if a fire starts in a high-rise building? In these situations, it is essential to have a plan in place to avoid any injuries.
The first topic of National Safety Month is Emergency Preparedness. Throughout the week the NSC stresses the importance of having a plan and first-aid knowledge.
The National Safety Council urges companies to train their team members for emergencies. It is the responsibility of leaders to ensure that their team members feel safe and prepared for any emergency while at work.
The NSC provides resources on what to do during a fire, power outage, or natural disaster. To learn more visit https://www.nsc.org/safety-training/first-aid to access free educational materials.
CSG's Emergency Preparedness
Although we may not be able to control when emergencies happen, we can control how we react to them. Emergency preparedness is one of the many safety topics CSG teaches and reviews with our team members.
In accordance with our commitment to safety excellence, CSG provides an extensive training curriculum regarding emergency preparedness. The health and safety of our team members are our top priority which is why we try to prepare them for any scenario.
Emergency Action Plan
We cannot predict when and where emergencies occur, but we can prepare for them. CSG has an emergency preparedness checklist for each site to prevent emergencies from escalating. A few steps of this action plan include:
Establishing an emergency action plan with all CSG Team Members.
Reviewing the emergency evacuation plan with our client.
Having a pre-designated location where all team members meet after an emergency.
Team members must know the evacuation plan inside and out to avoid making mistakes when exiting the facility in an emergency. Emergencies often create chaos so it is important to know what to do when you may not be thinking clearly.
Once the building is evacuated, CSG team members know to go to their designated meeting location. Having a safe meeting location allows team members to account for one another and identify any missing team members. This creates a sense of security while also stopping the emergency respondents from searching for an unaccounted individual.
Fire Emergency Preparedness
Fires are a very common emergency in both the workplace and at home. In 2021, 1,353,500 fires resulted in 3,800 civilian deaths and 14,700 injuries. Creating a fire emergency plan can help lower this number and save the lives of many.
In the case of a fire emergency, all team members are aware of the location of fire extinguishers and how to use them. A small fire can be extinguished before it becomes a big one. CSG trains its team members to use the PASS method when handling a fire extinguisher.
Of course, CSG team members are trained to evacuate the building if a fire escalates and becomes a threat to their lives. Our team members are not only prepared to protect themselves but clients and customers as well.
CSG seeks to proficiently train all its team members on how to safely handle an emergency so that workplace injuries and deaths are eliminated. Although we hope to never utilize an emergency action plan, having them in place is a necessity.
What You Can Do
There is no such thing as being too prepared. Having a plan in place for an emergency can be the difference between life and death. Take time this week to review your current action plan. It is important to confirm that all team members are aware of this plan in case of an emergency.
After creating a plan, check that the property is supplied with the proper tools to mitigate injuries in an emergency. This includes having fire extinguishers that meet the general requirements of OSHA's fire safety. When a fire hazard occurs there should be no delay in locating or using a fire extinguisher. Other emergency supplies include a first aid kit.
Emergencies can occur at any moment no matter where you are. Therefore, you should also establish an emergency action plan at home. Take a moment to survey your surroundings and determine what you would do in an emergency.
Emergency Preparedness and Workplace Safety Moving Foward
If you have not already, now is your time to create an emergency plan for your workplace and your home. If you don't how or where to start, the National Safety Council has you covered. Visit https://www.nsc.org/ to review the endless resources and statistics they have regarding emergency preparedness.
June is National Safety Month. Learn about emergency preparedness; slips, trips, and falls; heat-related illness; and hazard recognition to help #KeepEachOtherSafe on and off the job as well as commit to safety when you take the National Safety Council SafeAtWork pledge here: https://www.nsc.org/safeworkpledge #NSM
Stay connected with CSG throughout NSM via our Facebook Page, LinkedIn, and Instagram accounts. Join the CSG team to grow your career and feel appreciated for the work you do!
CSG is currently hiring throughout the entire state of California. We are looking to hire housekeepers, day porters, night janitors, window washers, and more! If you or someone you know is currently seeking employment, be sure to apply at csgcares.com/jobs.
About Contract Services Group, Inc. Contract Services Group, Inc. (CSG) specializes in providing superior, high quality, sustainable, and reliable commercial cleaning, window cleaning, and related services to a variety of industries throughout the Southwestern United States. CSG’s official online presence is located at http://www.csgcares.com.