Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
initiated before normal working hours. The presence of newcomers will
only lead to confusion and hamper any attempts at rescue. In addition,
the plan must facilitate a return to normal conditions once the event
is over.
A properly prepared Emergency Response Plan requires both expert-
ise and the input from all relevant departments. An effective plan can be
designed only by an experienced and well-trained person. Companies
should hire a well-trained security officer to supervise the security needs
of the company or hire a reputable security consultant to coordinate the
task. It may also be advisable to utilize the services of a consulting firm
to periodically update the emergency plan, conduct surprise drills to
gauge its effectiveness, and provide specialized security training for your
staff. Exhibit 14.3 is a sample of an Emergency Response Plan form to pro-
vide you with a guide for creating one for your own company. Remember,
we do not recommend that you create such a plan without the assistance of
trained security professionals. The office of compliance has published the
following recommendations.
2
1.
Be thorough and comprehensive in planning for emergencies.
Try to cover all contingencies, not just the quickest way out of the
building.
2.
Train all new people when they come on board about the con-
tents of the plan.
Interns, like other short-term employees, should
be familiar with emergency evacuation information.
3.
Implement a system to back up and store data in a remote loca-
tion that can be retrieved later.
Newspaper articles reported that
some workers in the World Trade Center complex lost their lives
when they returned to their offices to collect information.
4.
Keep the plan current.
As staff members leave the organization,
be sure to assign new employees to fill their roles in the emer-
gency plan.
5.
Do practice drills.
Often problems are discovered when the drills
are practiced.
6.
Plan for the unexpected.
During an actual emergency, there may
not be telephone service or emergency lighting, and certain doors
or passageways may be blocked or inaccessible.
7.
Follow the plan once it has been activated.
Once the plan is acti-
vated for whatever reason, complete the evacuation. Unless directed
otherwise by law enforcement at the scene, follow the plan. Morgan
