TheFluMaster
Resident
Heading off a catastrophe
Firm urges businesses to have disaster plans
Christina Estes
Special for The ABG
Aug. 17, 2006 12:00 AM
Last week's heightened security alert at airports should remind business owners to review company disaster plans and make sure they're ready for catastrophes such as a bird-flu pandemic or a bomb threat.
"When people know there's a plan for everything, for practically everything, they feel more secure that we are taking care of them," said Mary Smoczynski, owner of Chandler-based Strategic Safety Planning Inc.
Her firm helps businesses, organizations and government agencies design safety and emergency management plans. She declined to give financial details but said her company does subcontract work through three large government contractors with most of her current work being done for the federal Homeland Security Department.
Smoczynski said this also involves doing work for state and county agencies. Past clients include the departments of Energy, Commerce and the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
Most businesses were unprepared for disaster on Sept. 11, 2001. Smoczynski often uses global financial services firm Morgan Stanley as an example of a business that was more prepared than others.
"In 1993, after the first attack on the World Trade Center, it took them four hours to evacuate their employees," she said. "They put a plan together and practiced. In 2001, it took them 45 minutes to evacuate 3,800 employees."
A registered nurse with a master's degree in public heath, Smoczynski is especially interested in helping businesses prepare for a large-scale influenza outbreak.
"It takes several months to get a plan together," she said. "So, I suggest businesses start now before it's too late."
When coaching small businesses, Smoczynski suggests that at least one person from each department get involved in the disaster plan.
"HR doesn't know how IT functions, and IT doesn't know how HR functions," she said. "Each department can make a mini-plan for the department and include that into a big plan."
While a specific plan for each potential hazard is recommended, Smoczynski said a plan for a possible bird-flu pandemic or other similar diseases can work for other disasters. In all cases, she said companies must be able to answer basic questions.
"How are you going to communicate to your employees? How are you going to be in touch with your critical people?" Smoczynski asked. "Do you have a secondary location? Can your people work from home?"
Smoczynski moved to Arizona three years ago when she had decided she wanted a change of scenery and a change in her work style.
A false alarm helped spark the idea for her business.
While working for an Illinois food company in the late 1990s, a caller threatened to blow up the building.
The receptionist who took the call had five minutes to get everyone out. Unsure of what to do, the receptionist mistakenly pressed an emergency button that alerted employees that severe weather was coming and instructed them to go to the basement.
"We're going to have to talk about this," Smoczynski recalled saying at the time of the alarm. "I looked at the emergency plan. It was maybe 10 pages long."
By the time Smoczynski was finished, the company's emergency plan was closer to 50 pages.
"Most places have fire plans, but a fire plan just doesn't cut it anymore." she said. "Sure, fire is important, but you need to cover other things."
http://www.azcentral.com/abgnews/articles/0817abg-security0817.html
Firm urges businesses to have disaster plans
Christina Estes
Special for The ABG
Aug. 17, 2006 12:00 AM
Last week's heightened security alert at airports should remind business owners to review company disaster plans and make sure they're ready for catastrophes such as a bird-flu pandemic or a bomb threat.
"When people know there's a plan for everything, for practically everything, they feel more secure that we are taking care of them," said Mary Smoczynski, owner of Chandler-based Strategic Safety Planning Inc.
Her firm helps businesses, organizations and government agencies design safety and emergency management plans. She declined to give financial details but said her company does subcontract work through three large government contractors with most of her current work being done for the federal Homeland Security Department.
Smoczynski said this also involves doing work for state and county agencies. Past clients include the departments of Energy, Commerce and the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
Most businesses were unprepared for disaster on Sept. 11, 2001. Smoczynski often uses global financial services firm Morgan Stanley as an example of a business that was more prepared than others.
"In 1993, after the first attack on the World Trade Center, it took them four hours to evacuate their employees," she said. "They put a plan together and practiced. In 2001, it took them 45 minutes to evacuate 3,800 employees."
A registered nurse with a master's degree in public heath, Smoczynski is especially interested in helping businesses prepare for a large-scale influenza outbreak.
"It takes several months to get a plan together," she said. "So, I suggest businesses start now before it's too late."
When coaching small businesses, Smoczynski suggests that at least one person from each department get involved in the disaster plan.
"HR doesn't know how IT functions, and IT doesn't know how HR functions," she said. "Each department can make a mini-plan for the department and include that into a big plan."
While a specific plan for each potential hazard is recommended, Smoczynski said a plan for a possible bird-flu pandemic or other similar diseases can work for other disasters. In all cases, she said companies must be able to answer basic questions.
"How are you going to communicate to your employees? How are you going to be in touch with your critical people?" Smoczynski asked. "Do you have a secondary location? Can your people work from home?"
Smoczynski moved to Arizona three years ago when she had decided she wanted a change of scenery and a change in her work style.
A false alarm helped spark the idea for her business.
While working for an Illinois food company in the late 1990s, a caller threatened to blow up the building.
The receptionist who took the call had five minutes to get everyone out. Unsure of what to do, the receptionist mistakenly pressed an emergency button that alerted employees that severe weather was coming and instructed them to go to the basement.
"We're going to have to talk about this," Smoczynski recalled saying at the time of the alarm. "I looked at the emergency plan. It was maybe 10 pages long."
By the time Smoczynski was finished, the company's emergency plan was closer to 50 pages.
"Most places have fire plans, but a fire plan just doesn't cut it anymore." she said. "Sure, fire is important, but you need to cover other things."
http://www.azcentral.com/abgnews/articles/0817abg-security0817.html