September is National Preparedness Month, and this week’s focus is Business Preparedness. The Ready.gov web site states that, “America’s businesses form the backbone of the nation’s economy.”  In times of crises, local, regional, state, and national businesses need to be prepared to protect not only their assets, but also the millions of employees who support them.  To assist in this effort, Fire Corps volunteers can reach out to local businesses and get them involved in making our communities safer.  Encourage your Fire Corps teams to use the information below to better educate businesses, the community, and fire or EMS departments on preparing for unexpected situations. For more information on National Preparedness Month, visit the Fire Corps web site at www.firecorps.org.

 

Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Ready.gov – Ready Business

Ready Business outlines common sense measures that business owners and managers can take to prepare for emergencies before they happen.  It provides practical steps and easy-to-use templates to help protect a company's future.  These recommendations reflect the Emergency Preparedness and Business Continuity Standard developed by the National Fire Protection Association and endorsed by the American National Standards Institute and DHS.  It also provides useful links to a variety of resources.

 

American Red Cross – Prepare at Work

The American Red Cross provides business owners, managers, and employees with insight about what to do in the event of an emergency.  This site provides information about workplace training and commuter safety along with a Business and Industry Guide to Disaster Planning.

 

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) – National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)

This site provides comprehensive information, resources, and programs to prevent and prepare for work-related illness and injuries.  Topics include hazards and exposure, diseases and injuries, chemicals, safety and prevention, emergency preparedness and response, data and statistics, and more.

 

U.S. Small Business Administration – Disaster Preparedness

The materials and resources on this web site can help small businesses to develop plans to recover from financial losses due to business interruption and to protect their employees, the community, and the environment in the event of a disaster or other emergency.

 

National Business Group on Health - An Employer Toolkit: Terrorism Preparedness and Planning: A Public/Private Partnership

This toolkit provides large employers with pertinent and timely information about practical strategies around emergency planning and response, dealing with public health issues, sharing plans, and coordinating efforts.

 

PandemicFlu.gov – Business Pandemic Influenza Planning Checklist

The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have developed a Pandemic Influenza planning checklist of important activities to assist large businesses in preparing for a possible outbreak.