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In 2022, the National Ocean and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) recorded 1,341 tornadoes in the United States. While many did not result in injuries or fatalities, tornadoes claimed the lives of 25 Americans that year.
Being prepared for a tornado is crucial, as these natural disasters can strike at any time, potentially while your employees are at work. As an employer, it is your responsibility to have tornado drill procedures and a safety plan in place to protect your workforce. However, developing these plans from scratch can be a challenging task.
At Axcet HR Solutions, we recognize the paramount importance of employee safety, especially for small business owners and managers with myriad concerns. Our seasoned workplace safety consultants assist employers in managing the intricacies of natural disaster preparedness, alleviating one significant burden from their shoulders.
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Let's look more closely at the six fundamentals of creating a comprehensive plan for your workplace's tornado drill procedures. These proven and effective tips will set you on the right path to developing a robust safety plan that ensures the well-being of your team during a tornado.
The first step in creating a thorough tornado drill plan is to designate at least one shelter location. You may need to designate multiple locations depending on your business size, layout and employee count. When choosing a shelter location, keep the following guidelines in mind. A good tornado shelter should:
Avoid spaces with wide-span, flat roofs, such as those found in auditoriums, cafeterias, or gyms.
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Your shelter location should be fully stocked with all necessary safety equipment. Consider the following in an emergency kit:
Once you’ve identified a shelter location, you’ll need a written set of tornado drill procedures for getting employees to the shelter safely and efficiently.
Tornadoes are possible in and near the watch area.
A tornado has been sighted or indicated by weather radar.
As you’re drafting your tornado drill procedures plan, make sure to include instructions for the following scenarios:
Once you have drafted your business' tornado drill procedures, you’re ready to run through your drill and train your employees on the steps. For tornado drills, employees should have designated roles and be trained to meet the responsibilities of these roles. At least one tornado drill coordinator should be designated.
Employees designated as drill coordinators may be responsible for tasks such as: stocking shelters with safety equipment, leading employees through drills, recapping and assessing drill success after practicing, and updating the drill procedures as needed.
Regularly review and update your business' tornado drill procedures to ensure it remains relevant and effective. This includes updating the communication system and shelter-in-place procedure as necessary.
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Your tornado drill and other safety procedures should be reviewed by workplace safety experts for feasibility, safety and compliance with all federal, state and local regulations. Axcet HR Solutions’ team of workplace safety experts is ready to help your company design, vet and iron out its safety procedures.
When your organization works with Axcet HR Solutions, you gain a partner with veteran expertise in workplace safety compliance, risk management, workers’ compensation and more. Do you have safety and HR compliance needs? Find out what we can do to help. Contact Axcet's risk management team today.
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