Emergency Drill
- May 26
- 2 min read
Step 1
Create a detailed fire evacuation plan. Scenarios to consider:
Where might the fire start?
Are there areas in the building more prone to fires? Like kitchens and chemical storage.
Do wildfires threaten your business during the summer?
What is the maximum occupancy limit for your building?
Ensure the fire evacuation team is trained to carry out the responsibility.
Step 2
Communicate the importance of a fire drill with the team.
Step 3
Get executive buy-in.
Step 4
Communicate your emergency plan.
Step 4
Set goals for your evacuation drill. Develop benchmarks.
Step 5
Appointed observers for the emergency drill should look for the following:
Large groups of people who are moving slowly or talking with each other.
People using cell phones or other mobile devices.
Unhelpful behaviours such as grabbing coats, purses, and bags.
People with disabilities experiencing difficulties exiting the facility.
Employees who use a different exit than the one closest to their workstation.
Step 6
Rehearse the fire drill.
Step 7
Observers should then let you know of their findings while you compile a report of the whole drill outcomes, including Deep-Dive questions:
Did employees close the doors upon exiting rooms?
Were employees calm and confident?
Did everyone meet at their assigned meeting spot?
Was the fire alarm reset, and was the alarm company notified of the drill?
Did all employees get the alert from your emergency notification system?
Did the building facilities work correctly? Including doors, alarms and so on?
Other considerations
Work in various realistic scenarios for future drills.
Walk through the evacuation route with new employees during onboarding.
Conduct drills at random times to simulate a real-world scenario.
Schedule regularly, depending on fire risks.
Replace and train new fire leaders immediately following departures.
As a safety leader, conducting effective and well-thought-out fire drills can save lives. The employees will appreciate the thought and planning that made your drill efficient and professional. For that reason, evacuation skills are crucial components of employees' training.
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