Page 72 - OHS, July/August 2024

WORKPLACE SAFETY TECHNOLOGY
MangKangMangMee/stock.adobe.com
What OHS Officers Need to Know About Digitizing Emergency
Management
Digital emergency management systems are transforming safety drills and evacuations by providing accurate, real-time data and improving efficiency.
BY JEFF GLADWISH
For workers, safety drills are often an opportunity to step out for a moment and gain a minute of respite in an otherwise busy day. But for the safety officers in charge of organizing and executing the drill, the experience is often anything but
relaxing, carrying the significant responsibility of ensuring the safety of every individual is accounted for.
That’s why organizations are increasingly looking to transi- tion their evacuation management, mustering, roll calls, emer- gency notifications and record keeping to integrated digital solu- tions. Emergency management systems (EMS)1 help safety officers take the guesswork out of the process so that they know exactly who is on-site during evacuation events and can access key infor- mation such as headcount from the convenience of their smart- phone, tablet or laptop.
The Cost of Poor Emergency Management
When managing safety drills with manual tools, anything that can go wrong often does. Standard tools such as paper clipboards and megaphones may be easy to use, but they are prone to errors and redundant work.
One of the biggest stressors of safety drills and evacuation events
Emergency management systems help safety officers take the guesswork out of the process, ensuring everyone is accounted for during evacuations.
is having unaccounted-for personnel, leading to a mad dash to rec- tify the inconsistency and potential safety risks. A common source of missing personnel is not employees but rather visitors and guests,2
70 Occupational Health & Safety | JULY/AUGUST 2024
www.ohsonline.com