Last month's tragic events in New York, Virginia and Pennsylvania left a number of employers scrambling to update their emergency response programs.
The National Safety Council (NSC) is offering an On-Site Emergency Response Planning Guide to help offices, manufacturers, and industrial operations quickly update their disaster preparedness programs.
"The On-Site Emergency Response Planning Guide is particularly important in this time of national emergency awareness," said Alan McMillan, NSC president and chief executive officer. "The NSC has designed this Guide specifically to show those responsible for emergency planning how to implement a plan quickly and in compliance with OSHA standards."
The guide discuses the strategies and systems behind emergency planning for both manmade and natural disasters. It provides specific action plans to cope with hazardous material emergencies, structural failures, evacuations, bomb threats, medical emergencies, armed robbery, earthquakes and tornadoes.
A companion computer disk provides templates that help the user create and implement an emergency response plan. These emergency response procedures comply with Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) standards, and are used at National Safety Council headquarters. The information is also appropriate for homeowners and operators of residential facilities.
To assist with user inquiries, the guide offers a toll-free number and e-mail address so readers can get technical support on issues that may arise when implementing the recommended procedures.
The guide is the first step in a comprehensive program by the NSC to deliver information, training and educational materials to American businesses and citizens on disaster preparedness, disaster response and disaster evaluation. Modular programs, training seminars and awareness kits, basic safety and security programs for public and commercial buildings, and programs on terrorism, civil unrest, food tampering, natural disasters and many other subjects are planned.
For additional information about the NSC's emergency planning programs or to order the On-Site Emergency Response Planning Guide, visit the council's Web site at www.nsc.org or call 800-621-7619.
edited by Sandy Smith