The Ins and Outs of Storm Safety for Your Business

6/16/2018 (Permalink)

It’s thunderstorm season in Pottsville, PA, and you are prepared at home with a good plan and a well-stocked emergency kit. What about your business? Sure, you have already designated someone at the office as the unofficial meteorologist to provide regular storm updates to your team, but does your plan include more than just communicating when you are in a storm watch or a warning? Put on your inspector hat for three areas where you can keep your business safe in a rain storm.

1. Check for safety risks inside. With lightning and high winds, the most dangerous indoor areas include those near windows, skylights, external doors, and reinforced concrete (remember, concrete has metal bars running within). Remind your employees to stay clear of these areas as well as to avoid phones, computer equipment, and plumbing during a thunderstorm.

2. Get outside. Be sure your building has a lightning protection system. These may not seem as obvious as the old-school lightning rods from the early years, but these systems help provide a path of least resistance when there is lightning in the area. In addition to lightning, a rain storm can also bring high winds. Walk your property, inspecting shrubs and trees, and have dead limbs trimmed to help reduce damage from debris. Make a note of items that need to be secured or brought indoors before a storm begins.

3. Don’t forget electronics. Your printers, copiers, and computers can add up to a significant amount of money. In addition to the small surge suppressors you already use indoors, you can use an uninterruptible power supply (UPS) to protect your server or any other irreplaceable machines. You may also add a voltage arrester to the lines coming into your building to help minimize damage from voltage surges due to local lightning strikes.

A rain storm can bring on a multitude of hazards, but knowing your risks and having a plan for recovery can help protect your business and the people who work for you. A little physical preparation now can help you get back to work more quickly.

For more information, please visit us at http://www.SERVPROpottsville.com.