Blogging Heros
Disasters can happen at any time and sometimes when you least expect it. Whether it is a natural calamity or technological disturbance, it helps to know that your establishment is ready to deal with them.
Why are disaster recovery plans important?
Companies and organisations need to implement a mitigation process for business continuity risks. Keep in mind that many consumers are dependent on the existence of businesses, hence, emergencies can greatly affect their daily routine. For this reason, your business should have a plan ready in case of unexpected adversities.
The following are the importance of disaster recovery plans:
- Ability to deliver resiliency to the compelling needs of customers;
- To limit the extent of damage to your business and property;
- Having potential alternatives to normal business operations in case of disaster;
- Capability to quickly and steadily get back on your feet again;
- To decrease any interruptions to your daily “business as usual” routine;
- Train your employees with emergency procedures;
- Minimisation of the economic impact of the disaster to your business; and
- Providing a sense of security to your employees and clients.
How should you go about disaster recovery planning?
Below is a 5-step guideline on how your management should make a disaster recovery plan:
1. Identify Possible Threats
The first thing to do is to list down all possible threats that may happen including any natural, structural and technological emergencies. Your team should consider the common natural disasters that typically happen like bushfires, earthquakes, floodings and strong typhoons.
Other emergencies may pertain to the structural aspect of your business like cracks on walls, wiring and plumbing conditions. Some may also consider power outages and cyber failures as threats to their businesses.
2. Create a Contingency Ready Team
Depending on the size of your company, you may assign some employees to lead their teams in case of disasters and emergencies. You may assign a few as fire wardens and first aid managers.
When choosing the right people for the tasks, remember to also assess the company’s vulnerability to every situation. Find people who can assume the responsibility and guarantee to lessen the burden in case of disaster.
3. Contract with Disaster Support Agencies
Every locality is embodied with governmental and non-governmental organisations that can readily provide support in case of calamities and emergencies. It is highly recommended to draw a contract with them to ensure that you get the necessary support during your recovery phase.
4. Distribute Disaster Recovery Information
The next step is to provide every employee with the information that can help prepare them in case of unexpected events. Let them know what steps they should do in every situation.
They should be informed about where to find essential things like fire extinguishers and emergency kits. This also includes evaluation plans and the members of the contingency ready team.
5. Train Your Employees
Lastly, train your employees. This includes fire and earthquake drills, fire warden training, first aid training and other health and safety training programs. Schedule drills regularly and make sure that every employee will comply with them.
What is included in a disaster recovery plan?
A disaster recovery plan typically involves 4 stages.
1. Prevention
The prevention phase includes the planning stage – the what, who, when, why and how of preventing massive distraction in case of a disaster.
- What to do in case of fire, earthquake, typhoon, flood and other calamities;
- Who to contact or to assign in certain emergencies;
- When to act on the situation;
- Why recovery plans should be done; and
- How to go through with every emergency.
2. Preparation
The second phase is the preparation where equipment, tools and guidelines are put in order. This phase ensures that every employee knows what to do and how to go through certain unavoidable emergencies in a workplace.
In many instances, employees go through drills and training to ensure their preparedness. Some employees are assigned particular responsibilities to minimise unwarranted decision-making during a disaster.
3. Mitigation
During the mitigation phase, it is best if employees know how to act on any disastrous event. They should be familiar with first aid and emergency responses. This phase should ensure that losses and damages are decreased if not eliminated.
4. Recovery
The recovery phase includes rebuilding and reestablishing any losses or damages incurred during an emergency or disaster. It should include all factors that left an impact on the business such as economic and infrastructural damages. In case, some employees are psychologically and emotionally affected, this should also be addressed.
Essential Priorities of a Disaster Recovery Plan
After a disaster, implementing your disaster recovery plan should help you gain back the lost momentum of your business. To do this, it is essential to determine the functions, areas of the building and positions that need priority.
Make sure your priorities will include the general needs of the entire company. Leave the departmental issues to your managers. Oversee the recovery plan to restore the functionality of the business.
Contact Workplace Emergency Management today and learn how you can effectively implement a disaster recovery plan!
