Immediate actions
Step 1: Ensure everyone has arrived at the meeting location.
- Notify emergency personnel of any missing employees (if you suspect anyone is trapped inside, be sure to let emergency personnel know this, too).
- You can also try reaching missing employees on their cell phone. Text messaging may work better as phone service could be compromised immediately after an earthquake.
Step 2: Check to see if anyone is injured.
- Provide first aid as needed.
- Notify emergency response if medical attention is needed.
Step 3: Remind employees that damage is likely to exist throughout the area.
- Be aware of downed power lines or damaged utility poles, and stay away from them.
- If working in coastal areas, move to higher ground since tsunamis are a significant threat.
- Once you exit a damaged building, do not go back inside. If you smell gas or notice a chemical spill, report it right away.
Remember to call or text a predesignated out-of-area contact and tell them where you and your employees are located. Then, stay off the phone unless it is absolutely necessary. This frees up bandwidth for emergency response teams.
Long-term actions
Do not return to the building unless authorized to do so. When you return to the building, use extreme caution. Perform a detailed hazard assessment of your worksite, check for gas leaks, water leaks, and chemical spills.
In the coming days, you’ll need to assess the workplace for structural or other damage. Depending on the size of the earthquake, this could be right away or it might take a while.
Take the time to assess all damage. Buildings may need to be repaired and equipment might have to be replaced before work can resume. Take pictures of any damage and remember to keep receipts for any repair and cleanup costs. If your workplace isn’t available due to damage, consider allowing your employees to work from home or in a different location during the repairs. If you need assistance making repairs, state and federal resources are available to you.
Utilities. If the gas to your workplace was turned off, you’ll need to call your local gas company to turn it back on. If the electricity went out and came back on, check electronic equipment and any appliances for damage.
Review. When everyone is back together, take time to review the earthquake response and discuss if any improvements can be made. Did everyone remember to Drop, Cover, and Hold On? Did anyone require medical attention and how quickly were you able to call for help? How did the building evacuation go? Did everyone arrive at the meetup location? Work with your employees to update your earthquake response plan.
Everything you do after an earthquake can help you plan and be even more prepared the next time an earthquake occurs.
