Reliable communications when the power goes out at work
In an emergency, the regular channels of communication (phones, cell phones, and computers) are likely to be unavailable, at least for a while… precisely at the time when you most desperately need to communicate.
What threats are you planning for your company?
- Earthquake, explosion or wind storm? The power lines will go down, so will the phone lines.
- Tornado or forest fire? Power lines and cell phone towers may be shut down on purpose to protect the network.
- Flood or ice storm? Again, lines or towers may be damaged or partially or completely disabled.
Can You Answer These Three Emergency Preparedness Questions?
Even a basic disaster recovery or business continuation plan should answer these questions:
1. Which of the above situations is most likely to occur in your workplace? (Or are there other, even more likely, emergencies to plan for, like a chemical spill or train wreck?)
2. If ANY emergency occurs, what are your plans to stay in contact with employees, customers, or vendors? What about the regulators?
3. How long can your company be WITHOUT contacting any of these groups? What is your first priority?
Protecting lives must be your first priority.
In an unexpected power outage, with the lives of employees in danger, how will you let them know? Obviously, using normal communication channels won’t work.
Only self-powered communications systems it will work, and that usually means a battery operated system. Some examples are emergency lighting, fire alerts, and sirens.
These simple alerts can help employees take shelter, but they don’t help them know how serious the emergency is, where to go for help, etc.
The best method of communication for employees? Two way radios.
Simple handheld radios, or walkie-talkies, can allow employees to communicate with each other and with headquarters, depending on how far apart they are.
Using walkie-talkies, employees can be directed to flee from danger. They may be instructed to fight fires, stock inventory, or provide assistance to colleagues who have been injured. With walkie-talkies, there are no busy signals, no messages, no disconnects: it’s a direct channel to someone on the other end. As long as users have basic training on how to take turns speaking, communications can be instant.
Simple radios are as low as $25 a pair. For a bigger bang for your buck, you can get radios with extra channels, more features, and a longer range. All models, however, work with the same push-to-talk technology.
If you are responsible for emergency planning for your business and have not considered emergency communications, you may want to consider the use of two-way radios as a core component of your plan.
