Disaster Prevention: Protecting Your Business from Harm When Crisis Hits

Karleia Steiner

October 24, 2014

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A crisis can hit your business at any time. The key is to be prepared for any type of disaster. This requires knowledge and planning. A little planning can make a significant difference later. You should do several things to protect your business from harm when a crisis hits.

Train Employees for a Crisis

The first step is to ensure all your employees are trained for a crisis. You want to hold formal trainings that show employees what to do if there is a fire, flood or other disaster. Hold regular drills to reinforce the lessons taught during training. Training your employees for a crisis will make certain that there are minimal injures and no panic if a disaster occurs.

Store Data Backups in an Offsite Location

Your business relies on the data stored on servers or hard drives within your company. Even a minor crisis could cause some of this important data to be lost forever. You need to back up the most important data on a regular basis. Additionally, store the backups in an offsite location so that they will be safe if something happens to the building. An alternative is to use cloud-based backups through a third-party service.

Have the Right Safety Equipment

Be certain that you have all the right safety equipment in your business. This should include smoke detectors, fire extinguishers and first aid kits from a company like Nutech Safety Ltd. Keep employees informed about where the safety equipment is located and how to use it. Inspect and maintain the equipment. Replace any equipment that stops working or that is damaged.

Have a Disaster Recovery Plan

Have a disaster recovery plan in place. This plan describes the steps needed to get your business running again after a crisis hits. It should include things like alternate locations for the business, emergency communication plans and the phone numbers of vendors providing new equipment. A disaster recovery plan can help you to return to normal operations fast.

Maintain Proper Insurance

You must maintain proper insurance for your business and assets at all times. Review insurance policies to make sure that they cover important equipment. Add new equipment to a policy right away. Be certain that the policy is for an appropriate amount. Insurance can prevent serious financial problems if a crisis occurs.

You do not want to be caught off guard if a crisis hits. Being unprepared could harm your business permanently. Always have a plan in place for a crisis and keep the safety equipment in your business operational. This can prevent many problems.