An emergency procedures guide might be an afterthought for many businesses, but you wouldn't want to be caught in an emergency without one. Along with your updated emergency contacts list, you should also assess your company's emergency procedures to ensure you have a comprehensive policy ready to take effect when you least expect it.

Topics your guide should cover:

After Hours Building Emergencies

The building you work in should have their own emergency procedure established so contact them to get a copy of what your employees should do in the event of an after hour's emergency. Be sure to collect any necessary phone numbers for building emergencies as well (including the property manager, leasing office, landlord, etc.)

Fire/Evacuation Procedures

This should include evacuation routes for your building and a list of where the fire alarms are located. You can probably get this information from your building manager (if you have one). Be sure to warn your employees not to use elevators in the event of a fire. Your building should conduct regular fire alarm testing as well as evacuation drills. You might consider conducting your own company drills that mirror that of your buildings to ensure your employees safety.

Accident/Serious Injury/Illness Procedures

You should have a first aid kit available to all office personnel and you should direct your employees to that kit in your emergency guide. If someone in the office is certified in first aid, there information should be clearly visible on the kit. You can also designate one or more people in the office to become certified in case of emergency. Be sure to direct employees to call emergency services in the event of an accident and refer to the emergency contacts list to gather more medical information regarding the injured.

Emergency Telephone Numbers

This section should provide the numbers of non-emergency police, fire department and hospitals. You should also include 911 as to not deter people from using an emergency number. It should also include numbers of the office personnel who should be notified in the event of an emergency.

Natural Disaster Procedures

Include any information on how the office operates in the event of a hurricane, tornado, earthquake or any other severe weather pattern. Also, be sure to state your procedure for office openings and closures in the event of severe weather. Many companies institute a hotline for their employees to call when unsure of how the weather will play out and instruct them on the latest from the company.

Suicide Intervention

This section should give comprehensive instructions on how to deal with a suicidal employee. There are a number of suicide prevention hotlines and informational websites like the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline that offer a phone number to call for those in crisis. However, there may be local resources that should also be included. Be sure to research this thoroughly to give the best information to employees.

Unwanted Intruder Procedures

You should interact with your building manager to get the latest information on security procedures. They should provide you with their guidelines and numbers to call for help. In many cases, an office building will have their own security in place and will use local authorities for enforcement.

Bomb/Bomb Threat Procedures

Check with your local authorities to be sure to give the best information for this section. Bomb threats are not the most common emergency among offices, but it is none-the-less important to be prepared. Keep the OA bomb threat evaluation form (available in the templates and documents section) by your phone to help guide you through a bomb threat with the caller on the phone. Your local authorities may have something similar for you and should also be able to provide phone numbers to call in the event of a threat.

Suspicious Mail Procedures

Be sure to inform your employees of the following: If you suspect a piece of mail is malicious, do not open it and contact your local authorities immediately. They will likely instruct you to evacuate the area immediately, but before opening it, be sure to consult them for details on how to handle suspicious mail.

With a little effort and a few phone calls, you can create a comprehensive procedure for you company that is sure to improve the safety of all employees. You may add categories as you see fit as no company or geographical area is the same.