Yesterday, we got some valuable workplace emergency preparedness tips courtesy of Randy DeVaul, safety expert and BLR webinar moderator. Today, a few more suggestions on inspections and training, as well as an introduction to a webinar that no well-prepared employer will want to miss.
Daily Inspections Are Crucial
DeVaul advocates having employees do preshift inspections of their work areas. For example, they can make sure that there is, in fact, a fire extinguisher hanging on the hook with the locator sign, and that it’s not only there but that it’s charged, it’s in the green, it’s been inspected, and it hasn’t been used and moved somewhere else, DeVaul says.
Employees can also check for blocked exits, locked doors, and whatever else they depend on in their particular worksite.
Training Is a Must
Train your employees about your emergency plan. You should be able to document that you have done the training, and that employees know what to do and where to go. Agency inspectors like to see that there has been some form of a drill, DeVaul says.
Handling weather-related work challenges: Webinar July 11
Where to Go for Help
Also consider reaching out to the local emergency manager in your area. That person could provide you with additional guidance, which is particularly helpful because where FEMA information is national, a local emergency manager can provide you with information on the requirements within your jurisdiction to make sure you’re in compliance locally, as well as nationally.
Finally, DeVaul suggests, don’t forget your insurance carrier. It is another good source of help, and your carrier is going to be as interested in employee protection as well as in your equipment, products, and materials. The carrier usually has some templates or other aids available to help you design your own materials.
Work & Weather: Must-Have Policies on Absenteeism, Pay, Telecommuting, and More
As the recent tornado tragedies ripping through the middle of the country have shown, the weather can wreak unexpected havoc on work schedules year-round. Floods, wildfires, and earthquakes can all present tricky challenges relating to attendance policies, leave time, pay, and more.
Fortunately, advance preparation and effective weather-related absenteeism policies can enable your team to safely and productively handle whatever Mother Nature throws your way.
Join us on July 11 for an in-depth webinar — specifically for California employers — all about handling weather-related work challenges. You’ll learn:
- How to make sure you stay compliant with the California and federal wage/hour laws
- Why you need an inclement weather policy and what should be included in it
- How to communicate the policy before bad weather hits so employees know what to expect, and whether to make the trip to work
- The best ways to deal with employees who can’t make it in due to the weather
- What to do with employees already at work when bad weather is expected to hit
- How to calculate time-off, attendance, and deductions when workers are absent due to weather
- Why a “work from home” strategy as an alternative to coming to work in bad weather may create more problems than it solves if you’re not careful
- What to do when an employee wants to make up time missed due to bad weather
- What constitutes an “Act of God” for purposes of the wage/hour laws — and how to pay employees properly when one hits
Register now! Can’t make it on the 11th? Order the CD and learn at your leisure.
Download your free copy of 20 Must-Have Employee Handbook Policies today!