In the modern-day workplace, safety cannot just be a series of rules that employees follow under threat of disciplinary action; it needs to become a culture that the entire staff buys into. Having confidence that everyone in the business is genuinely invested in workplace safety can be one of the best ways to minimize risks and protect lives.
Today, we’ll discuss how the Emergency Response Guidebook (ERG) can be an effective tool for building this safety culture. By integrating the information within the ERG into your workplace protocols, you can ensure that your business is a safe place to work for all employees.
In addition to discussing how to use the ERG as an essential resource, we’ll also cover the proper use of safety equipment, such as fire extinguishers and the Shutgun Fire Sprinkler Shut Off Tool.
Let’s get started!
The Role of the Emergency Response Guidebook in Workplace Safety Culture
The Emergency Response Guidebook is a resource designed to help first responders and emergency personnel handle hazardous material incidents and fires. This guidebook, which is updated annually, also provides significant information that can be useful for general workplace safety.
The guidebook is a joint effort between the U.S. Department of Transportation and Transport Canada. Relevant government departments offer free digital copies, or you can pay for printed versions of the current edition.
By ensuring that all staff are familiar with the contents of the ERG, a company can ensure that their employees are equipped to handle emergencies and avoid situations that could lead to them. Here are the key features of the ERG and why they can be relevant for employees across a wide range of industries:
Hazard Identification
The ERG provides detailed information on identifying various hazardous materials common in certain workplaces. This information can be invaluable for employees in recognizing, reporting, and addressing potential dangers before they result in an emergency.
Emergency Action Guidelines
The book also thoroughly outlines the steps individuals should take in the event of an emergency. Arming all employees with this information can be a life-saving decision if a life-threatening emergency unfolds.
Rather than relying on team leaders to direct staff, a culture of workplace safety ensures that all staff members have a sense of responsibility for their own safety and the safety of their colleagues.
The book even includes details about identifying and displaying emergency contact information, which enhances the safety culture and ensures the correct emergency services are contacted as quickly as possible when required.
Evacuation Protocols
This guidebook also explains how to craft evacuation protocols that match your business’s needs. This information can further enhance employees’ confidence that they will be safe in the event of an emergency. From knowing the safest routes to learning how to unblock and avoid potentially dangerous exits, everyone in the business will feel safer.
Fire Prevention
As you know, fire prevention is an essential aspect of workplace safety. The ERG’s focus on hazardous materials storage and management can provide staff with the information they need to avoid improperly storing and handling flammable materials.
The emergency response training included in the guidebook can also help establish fire drills and evacuation routes. During these drills, which are tailored to the needs of your specific business, a culture of safety responsibility can be established.
From simulating real-life fire scenarios to reinforcing the concepts of fire prevention and preparedness, all staff members can feel like they have a role to play in fire safety.
The fire drills established in conjunction with reading the ERG can also include practicing with fire safety equipment, like fire extinguishers and fire blankets. Employees can also become familiar with using and locating the Shutgun. In a misfiring fire sprinkler system, all staff should be able to locate a Shutgun Tool quickly.
We recommend ordering a Custom Shutgun Case and storing one of these tools with every fire extinguisher using the Shutgun Wall Mounting Kit. This simple action could prevent tens of thousands of dollars in water damage.
Ways to Include the ERG When Creating a Safety Culture
Now that you’re familiar with the information contained within the ERG, we can look at how you can use it to foster a workplace culture of safety:
1. Get Employees Involved
Provide each employee with a copy and conduct safety meetings where they can discuss its contents openly. Practice the drills discussed in the guidebook and encourage employees to identify potential hazards and unsafe conditions.
2. Elect Group Leaders
Although ensuring everyone feels involved is a critical component of building a culture, there is something to be said about the role of leadership in group safety. Allow staff to elect their own safety leaders who report potential safety issues on behalf of the group. This will help employees feel like their participation in group safety is valued.
3. Continuously Train
The benefits of the ERG should not be isolated to a single training seminar, especially if you want to establish a safety culture. Developing a culture is not one-off; it requires active participation and ongoing effort to improve.
Distribute the latest edition of the guidebook each year and encourage employees to suggest safety improvements based on their own readings and workplace experiences.
4. Recognize Employee Contributions
Another really useful way to help employees feel like they are actually involved in the safety of the group is to recognize and reward positive contributions, as well as general participation.
Create safety awards, develop a game and reward system to encourage participation, and formally recognize significant contributions made by individuals, no matter where they come from. A brand-new intern should feel just as involved in workplace safety as the members of the company’s leadership.
Other Components of Workplace Safety: The Shutgun
Beyond establishing a culture of safety in the workplace and ensuring that all potential hazards are minimized with the help of the ERG, another way you can keep your business safe is by investing in the right tools and equipment.
The Shutgun Fire Sprinkler Shut-Off Tool is one such tool that enables users to quickly deactivate individual fire sprinkler heads, preventing water damage after a fire has been successfully extinguished or if the fire sprinkler has been activated accidentally.
Given that a single fire sprinkler can release 60 gallons of water in a single minute, not relying on first responders or a fire sprinkler system maintenance team to shut them off can save tens of thousands of dollars in water damage.
Invest in the right Shutgun Tools for your specific fire sprinkler heads and mount them alongside Laminated Instruction Cards to ensure all your staff know how to use the Shutgun if required.
Learn more and get your own Shutgun Tools with the link below: