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When disaster strikes

Employees should be familiar with their evacuation, hazard plans

Working with unstable substances in potentially dangerous environments every day, many Laboratory employees are uniquely aware of the importance of emergency preparedness. Institution-wide and division/facility-specific plans are in place to protect both employees and the surrounding community.

While several of these emergency plans are highly job-specific and available within individual groups at the Lab, Emergency Management and Response (EM&R) offers some general tips and preparedness information from sources such as the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), the American Red Cross and the Federal Emergency Management Agency. Related literature from these organizations is available on the EM&R Web site at http://emr.lanl.gov online.

According to OSHA, the best way to handle a workplace emergency is to prepare. Employees should be ready to respond to an emergency before it happens. Its booklet, " How to Plan for Workplace Emergencies and Evacuations," outlines the entire process from the brainstorming stage through emergency action plan development to employee training. Additionally, Lab workers should be familiar with their specific evacuation plans and know where to gather outside when evacuating a building.

The American Red Cross also offers a descriptive pamphlet discussing 'Shelter-in-Place" - what it means, why one might need to do it and how to shelter in place in different environments such as work, home and school.

In addition, a FEMA publication provides tips on emergency preparedness. Called "Are You Ready?" the guide is available to individuals, families and community preparedness groups looking for a comprehensive source of what to do when disaster strikes. The guide provides a step-by-step approach to disaster preparedness by teaching individuals how to become informed about local emergency plans, identify hazards that affect their area, develop and maintain an emergency communications plan for family members, and build a disaster supplies kit.

Other guide topics include evacuation, emergency public shelters, animals in disaster and information specific to people with disabilities. The preparedness facts are based on the most reliable hazard awareness and emergency education information, including advances in scientific knowledge, the most accurate technical language and the latest physical research on what happens in disasters.

The guide is available from the FEMA Web site in both English and Spanish. Go to www.fema.gov online to obtain a free copy or call FEMA's Publications Warehouse at 1-800-480-2520.

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