Business & Community Groups

Prepare a Safer Workplace and Protect Your Most Valuable Asset: Your Employees

If an injury, illness or disaster strikes, would you and your employees be prepared to treat a co-worker, customer, or anyone else visiting your facility, or even save a life?  While you can't prevent emergencies, you can be prepared for them.

From CPR, first aid and automated external defibrillator (AED) training to injury prevention courses, and bloodborne pathogens training, the American Red Cross is uniquely qualified to help your company comply with critical OSHA requirements and other industry specific guidelines.  A wide range of courses gives people the skills to face emergency situations with confidence.  Because of our modular curriculum, your organization can build the program that's right for you.  Training can be scheduled to accommodate the time and location requirements of your worksite. 

Now is the the time to invest in the well-being of your entire company with American Red Cross health & safety training. 

Overview

With the definition of disaster expanding to include incidents like workplace violence and terrorist attacks, it is more important than ever for our chapter to help business and industry to prepare for  disasters. Our chapter offers instructional material and training programs geared specifically for businesses.

Each business day 16,000 people are hurt in the workplace and workplace accidents cost businesses nearly $60 million a year. For more than 75 years, the Red Cross has been a leader in health and safety education for the workplace, offering a number of programs geared specifically for business and industry. In recent years, the Red Cross increased its standard of care guidelines by introducing Automated External Defibrillators (AED) in the workplace. AED machines can help save up to 100,000 of the 350,000 people who suffer from sudden cardiac arrest each year.

Browse our course offerings online, or dial (800) 42 CROSS for more information.

Disaster Recovery Begins Before a Disaster

No business should risk operating without a disaster plan. While reports vary, as many as 40 percent of small businesses do not reopen after a major disaster like a flood, tornado or earthquake. These shuttered businesses were unprepared for a disaster; they had no working disaster plan or backup systems.

When you start to develop your business's disaster plan, consider three subjects: human resources, physical resources and business continuity. Think about how a disaster could affect your employees, customers and workplace. Think about how you could continue doing business if the area around your facility is closed or streets are impassable. Think about what you would need to serve your customers even if your facility is closed.

Start building your plan now.

Here are some suggestions your organization may want to consider:

  • Keep phone lists of your key employees and customers with you, and provide copies to key staff members.
  • If you have a voice mail system at your office, designate one remote number on which you can record messages for employees. Provide the number to all employees.
  • Arrange for programmable call forwarding for your main business line(s). Then, if you can't get to the office, you can call in and reprogram the phones to ring elsewhere.
  • You may not be able to get to your facility quickly after an emergency, so leave keys and alarm code(s) with a trusted employee or friend who is closer.
  • Install emergency lights that turn on when the power goes out. They are inexpensive and widely available at building supply retailers.
  • Back up computer data frequently throughout the business day. Keep a backup tape off site.
  • Use UL-listed surge protectors and battery backup systems. They will add protection for sensitive equipment and help prevent a computer crash if the power goes out.
  • Purchase a NOAA Weather Radio with a tone alert feature. Keep it on and when the signal sounds, listen for information about severe weather and protective actions to take.
  • Stock a minimum supply of the goods, materials and equipment you would need for business continuity.
  • Consult with your insurance agent about precautions to take for disasters that may directly impact your business. Remember, most policies do not cover flood damage. Protect valuable property and equipment with special riders. Discuss business continuity insurance with your agent.
  • Keep emergency supplies handy, including a flashlights with extra batteries, first aid kit, tools, and food and water for employees and customers to use during a period of unexpected confinement at your business.