I recently presented the list of 50+ threats and emergencies for which workplaces shall plan and train to a new client. He said, “Are you kidding me? That’s over the top. You’re piling on stuff we just don’t need. This is bull$*%#!”
Please, please, please don’t go down this path. Resist the siren song of denial. You don’t get to pick and choose your emergencies.
Your emergency planning isn’t like shopping in a big box store with your committee members, each tossing their preferred crisis into your cart.
Instead, it’s like you playing one of your kid’s lightning-paced video games with countless threats popping up—and you’re playing blindfolded.
When an emergency strikes, government agencies—and, inevitably, a judge and jury—won’t care that your actual emergency wasn’t on your shopping list.
They will impose upon you what the national standard (NFPA 1600) and the law (OSHA 29CFR1910.34-39) demand by way of foreseeable circumstances for which you have to plan and train.
All 50+ threats are in the standard and all are foreseeable. Thus, you shall plan and train for them.
Any excuse you offer will be dismissed. Just like in school, “The dog ate my homework” won’t fly.
You may agree with this client that all-hazards planning and training is bull. But the judging authorities will impose their civil, personal and—yes, criminal—standards on your organization (see the compliance section of our site for more information). They are not interested in your opinion.
“You knew or should have known.”
Welcome to the NFL. Suck it up. No whining.
Tell me if this is helpful.