A safety plan template is a document made as part of an official procedure that involves designing a proactive scheme. This scheme must follow by the individuals in the event of any kind of emergency. The nature of this document requires that it should be drafted uniquely in order to meet the requirements of a business or any other type of venue where people gather.
Table of Contents
What is a safety plan?
A safety plan is a formal document containing procedure that has to be followed by every member of a workplace in case of an emergency. The structure of safety plan may vary from organization to organization. Usually, it depends on the nature of the work that is performed by an organization. However, all safety plans consist of emergency procedures and the site map.
What is the emergency procedures in your safety plan?
The steps for emergency procedures is one of the most important elements of a safety plan template. The statements of your procedure should be written in such a manner that they can easily understand by everyone. These statements have to be specific, comprehensive, and precise.
It is very important to incorporate emergency procedures into your safety plan. All the procedures and protocols from start to end should be mentioned here. People who have the responsibility of activities such as calling emergency services, etc. specify their names and job title to make sure accountability in case of an emergency.
Furthermore, you also have to specify the contact information of emergency services such as paramedics, firefighters, law enforcement, and more. You have to make sure that you get your message as soon as possible in case you require a quick response to your situation.
When to use a safety plan template?
While creating a safety plan remember that situations vary from one another. So, you have to make a safety plan that’s specific to your own situation. You can create different types of safety plan templates;
- A construction safety plan template
- A safety plan template for students
- A health and safety plan template
- A business safety plan template and more
Below are some situations wherein you may need such a plan;
For emergencies or escalating incidents
You have to consider the best escape route from the venue for this plan. Think how you and all the other occupants can get out safely and quickly from an emergency. To indicate danger, come up with a code and share it with all the members of the family or with all the employees in the workplace.
In case, an argument starts, you should ensue to avoid areas that have no escape routes such as basements, kitchens, or bathrooms. Call the emergency hotline of your area or locale as soon as possible.
For leaving your home or an abuser
You have to ensure that there is a number of emergency hotlines in your locale. Place an emergency bad including a change of clothes, essential documents, keys, and money with an individual that you trust so you don’t have to gather these things before you leave. You may also like Prenuptial Agreement Forms.
In a concealed, hide emergency money and a set of keys. You should determine a hospital and a police station that’s open 24-hours where you can find refuge. In your own name, you must have a bank account where you put money for an emergency fund.
You should buy an emergency phone in case you have to leave your home and you can call for assistance. You have to review your safety plan regularly in order to make sure that it’s updated and you know all of the steps.
You should visit a domestic violence agency in your locale in order to get more knowledge about support and how to ask for legal advice.
For home safety
Change your locks right away in case there is a break-in. Install lighting outdoors and prevent your windows. You have to make a health and safety plan template. Then, orient your whole family regarding the contents.
Share the plan to your landlord if you live in an apartment complex or a rented property. Inform your landlord of this in case an incident has already occurred. Encourage your landlord to come up with a plan of his own. In addition, you can contact with your landlord and make the plan together.
For public or workplace safety
It is essential to make a safety plan template for your workplace and yourself. If a dangerous person stalks or follows you, make a plan for yourself and share it with your supervisor or employer. Provide them a photo of the person to look out for. Also, inform security personnel too. You can also let your closest coworkers know of the situation and of your plans.
What to include in your safety plan?
Whatever safety plan you are going to create whether a construction safety plan template, a safety plan for students, and more, keep in mind that this should be a comprehensive document. It includes a detailed framework for all the safety practices that you have to follow in the event of an unexpected event.
Furthermore, a safety plan provides each individual all the information required about how to deal with certain situations. This information can apply to various situations. But, you have to customize your plan according to your own needs. These days, different businesses and companies have forgotten the importance of a safety plan.
Having this document and all the procedures says a lot about the commitment of a business. It helps in maintaining the safety of their employees. With the help of this document, employees feel safer in the workplace.
The most challenging part that people may face while creating a safety plan is how comprehensive it should be. You should make up a framework on how to deal with a specific occurrence. You should also have to make sure that you don’t miss any essential step that may derail the effectiveness of the plan.
However, there are basic elements to include in each safety plan template;
- Sudden action or steps to take
- Procedures for securing the area
- People to contact about the situation
- To inform other people about the situation, communicating methods
- Safe handling applications and instructions
- Protective gear to wear such as gloves, hard hats, masks, and more
- Evacuation routes
- Procedures for data collection and reporting
- Training plans
- Equipment or waste disposal
- Media relations if applicable
Moreover, it is difficult to imagine all the possible scenarios that may consist of the safety of the company and of the people in it. But, it is harder to think about what you have to do in the event such a situation happens due to the severity of these situations may vary. Therefore, it is essential to check and update your safety plan template a daily basis. You should also have to be as observant as possible throughout any activities or incidents. That way, you can keep yourself well-prepared.
How to implement your safety plan?
Implementing your safety plan takes more time than just drafting the document. Inform all member regarding your plan implementation and execution if you want to create an effective plan. Therefore, it is essential to let all the employees know about the elements of your plan so that they know what they have to do.
In addition, a safety plan is considered as a living document so you have to review it frequently to assure that it contains the accurate content. Also, it is important to make your safety plan easily accessible to everyone.
Make sure that everyone involved must know how to deal with the situation when anything unexpected occurs. To minimize risks and damages, they have to know about the protocols and steps that they should follow. These days, with the advancement of technology, a lot of companies or organizations use software tools to make their safety plans. They are more accessible particularly in workplaces that depend on computers. To access them offline, employees are also allowed to save them on their desktop.
Steps to create a safety plan:
Here are 5 steps to make a safety plan;
Determine and anticipate situations
Making a list of situations where safety measures may require is the first step in making a safety plan. It is better to identify the kind of safety plan you are drafting before making this list. You have to list the situations on the basis of type as they are made for various reasons. The most common ones involve the following;
- Fire safety plan
- Suicide safety plan
- Abuse safety plan
- Cyber-safety plan and more
Determining safety measures
In the above section, you have listed the situations. Now, you have to identify the type of measures you will require to take in the situations. Here, you have to state that how to deal with these situations when they occur. Write down the safety measures in this section.
Indicate the required people
In suicidal or abuse cases, the victim has to speak to the right kind of people. These people should be able to offer professional help to the victims. The people who are close to the victim, specify their names. They also assist him/her to get out of the case.
Identify the required material to take
There are different types of required measures to be taken in case of safety plans. In some type of safety plans like disaster safety plans, you have to specify a list of the things to take in case you may have to leave the place of danger if situation occurs. Just list down those materials that are absolutely necessary for you to take.
Members to be informed and their contact details
The people that should be called in all emergency situations, write their contact details in the safety plan. This contains numbers of the police, the ambulance, and the fire brigade and these details should be listed in bold.
Conclusion:
In conclusion, a safety plan template should be a comprehensive document. Implementing this document takes more than just drafting the document. By informing everyone concerned about its implementation and execution, you can make a plan effective. So, you should orient employees or family members about the contents of the plan.
Grace Harry is an experienced freelance writer with an experience for 12+ years. She got her Master’s in Financial Management degree from the University of Dennison in 2007. She worked at California State Bank to help clients with their credit, investments, and bank accounts. She likes to assist people in reaching their financial goals when it comes to financial planning.
