50
s measured by the number of storms, major hurricanes
and longevity, 2017 is amongst the worst of the Atlantic
cyclone seasons. The devastation caused by the three
hurricanes to strike the continental United States and U.S.
territories is still being calculated as this article is being written.
High winds, heavy rains and flooding battered businesses of all
types and sizes. The Miami New Times ran at least one article
listing open businesses and what services were, or were not, avail-
able. Other news outlets ran articles about how workers were, or
were not, fairing during the natural disasters, with business owners
being profiled for the steps they were taking to help employees.
While the 2017 hurricane season is now over and the massive
fires in California have been quelled, other natural disasters in the
form of winter storms are on the way (at least as this article is being
written). Planning for natural disasters before they occur is critical
to the survival of your business. In thinking through – and writing
into a plan – what steps you will take to protect and restart your
business, do you know what you will, or are required to, do for your
employees if a natural disaster strikes?
Safety. First, natural disasters raise
safety concerns. Under federal law (the
Occupational Safety and Health Act) and
in many states, employers are required to
provide a workplace free of recognized
safety hazards. Thus, if your business is
in an area susceptible to flooding, for
example, or has a flat roof that may not
by Douglas H. Duerr
support the weight of accumulated snow
and ice, you should have a plan in place for
identifying when conditions have become dangerous and you
need to send employees home. Also, keep in mind that, if your
property is damaged and you ask/assign employees to perform
repair tasks, legal obligations for hazard assessment, mandatory
use of personal protective equipment (which you must provide),
and so forth will apply. After natural disasters, state and federal
workplace safety investigators are on the lookout for employers
engaged in recovery efforts without sufficiently complying with
safety regulations.