Building a Safer Workplace: The Vital Role of Earthquake and Fire Drills in Offices

Safety in the workplace is paramount, especially in fast-growing, dynamic regions like the UAE. Although the country is not known for frequent seismic activity, the risk remains significant enough to warrant thorough preparedness. Oasis Enterprises recently conducted a comprehensive twin drill exercise, addressing the critical scenarios of earthquakes and fire hazards in alignment with Dubai Municipality’s technical guidelines for emergency response.

While fire hazards remain a primary concern in UAE corporate offices due to the urban landscape, evolving infrastructure, and hot climate pose potential dangers. These twin hazards could lead to significant disruptions if they occur, making it essential for organizations to plan accordingly.

Planning for Potential Emergencies: The Scope of Oasis Enterprises’ Twin Drill

Led by Keneth Sah head of health and safety, the twin drills conducted at Oasis Enterprises were a vital exercise in ensuring employee preparedness. The drill covered several potential emergencies:

• Earthquakes
• Fires
• Medical scenarios, including heart attacks, asthma attacks, burns, cuts/lacerations, and poison

The plan, meticulously crafted, addressed several crucial aspects:

1. Practicality of the emergency response plan: Ensuring that the procedures should be effectively executed in real scenarios.
2. Adequacy of communications: Assessing the communication and interaction between various teams and emergency responders during a crisis.
3. Effectiveness of emergency equipment: Testing the readiness and operability of equipment like fire extinguishers and first aid kits.
4. First aid and rescue procedures: Evaluating the ability of trained personnel to provide prompt assistance.
5. Training of emergency personnel: Ensuring that designated individuals were well-versed in their roles and responsibilities.
6. Public relations skills: Emphasizing the importance of communicating with external parties, such as local authorities or media, in the event of an emergency.
7. Personnel count and evacuation evaluation: Making sure all employees were safely evacuated and accounted for.

Pre-Drill Preparation and Execution

The plan and drill scope were clearly communicated to all team members ahead of time, allowing them to familiarize themselves with the process and expectations. This preparation helped ensure that employees could respond quickly and efficiently during the actual drill, reducing potential confusion in a real emergency.

Oasis Enterprises took an extra step by sponsoring selected employees for first aid certification. These trained individuals were strategically positioned across different sections of the office to offer immediate assistance in case of injuries or health emergencies during a fire or earthquake. Prior to the drill, these first aid providers attended a briefing to align their objectives with the overall drill strategy, ensuring they were ready to act as first responders if necessary.

Continuous Improvement through Annual Drills

To maintain a high level of preparedness, Oasis Enterprises conducts full evacuation drills at least once a year. These drills are essential in ensuring that all personnel, as well as the response team members, remain familiar with the emergency procedures. The scheduling of drills, observations made during them, and any corrective actions are systematically recorded for future reference and improvement.

In conclusion, the twin drill at Oasis Enterprises reinforced the importance of being prepared for any emergency scenario. By conducting such exercises in line with local guidelines and regulations, the company not only protects its employees but also ensures business continuity in the face of unforeseen disasters. Preparedness, after all, is the best defense.