Preparedness: A New Jobsite Buzzword

Preparedness has been a national buzzword since Hurricane Katrina, seven years ago this week. No matter the season or the location of the site, having a preparedness plan in place helps conserve materials and limit business disruption in case of emergency. Approach the plan step by step to turn a daunting task into a manageable one.

What to Plan For

Emergencies may vary by location, but common events to plan for include:

• Hurricane
• High winds
• Heavy rains and flash floods
• Material safety, such as containment of hazardous materials on site and hazardous material cleanup policies

To identify all of the potential hazards on site, consider what could go wrong. This may change at different parts of the construction, and a complete preparedness plan will take into account the entire project lifecycle. Once hazards are identified, planning becomes easier. Hazards at sites may vary, so tailor the plan to each site.

Making a Plan

After laying out all potential hazards, the plan should discuss emergency resources, including (but not limited to) calling 911. The location of emergency equipment such as fire extinguishers, first aid equipment and spills containment systems, must be identified. What should personnel do after notifying 911? What are the policies for handling different types of emergencies? The more detailed the plan is regarding these actions, the easier the plan will be to implement in emergencies. Including clearly labeled photos in the documentation helps ensure that the essential element of the plan crosses language barriers.

Examples of items that a comprehensive plan might cover include:

• Workday cleanup: At the end of the workday, small items should be securely stored inside buildings and the worksite should be secured from the elements so that storm winds or heavy rains cannot wash away equipment from the worksite.
• Power: Backup generators should be on hand to provide emergency power to the worksite in case of grid system failure from heavy demand, storm, high winds or a hurricane.
• Circuit breakers: These should be clearly labeled and accessible on site, and should be inspected for corrosion, water damage or rust that can indicate a bad circuit breaker that may pose a fire hazard.
• Scaffolding: In the event of an emergency, staff should disassemble scaffolding and secure it so it doesn’t come apart in high winds, creating a public safety hazard.

Government agencies, including FEMA and OSHA, have published preparedness plan recommendations that can guide plan writing and ensure completeness.

Next Steps

Once the plan is complete, it’s time to publicize it. All employees should have a copy of the plan, as should all sites. Personnel must know what their specific role is in the plan, so that everything is accounted for. For example, a large construction site may have a first responder crew, relief crews to aid emergency preparedness, standby crews and cleanup crews that come into play when the storm has passed. These crews will have different jobs, all equally important. Ensure teams have two-way radios in addition to cellular phones, so everyone can communicate during a storm or other emergency.

Having the plan in place means less damage and loss to each construction site, and to company equipment. While creating the plan can seem time intensive and daunting, it need not be. There are many resources to help when creating a site preparedness plan.