'Your plan is only as good as the people implementing it,' says consultant
Small businesses across Canada are being urged to elevate their emergency preparedness measures. Citation Canada’s recent webinar, “Ready for Anything: Emergency Prep for Small Businesses,” delivered a clear message: failing to plan puts both people and profits at risk.
Hosted by Citation Canada’s Alex Smith, head of marketing, and Dustyn Benson, health and safety consultant, the session outlined how businesses—regardless of size—must take responsibility for workplace safety before disaster strikes.
Accidents on the rise
“With nearly 40,000 work-related accidents reported by the Government of Canada, this represents an 11% increase in disabling injuries year over year,” Benson reported.
The consequences go beyond immediate injuries. Business disruptions, liability, and reputational fallout are all amplified without a clear emergency plan in place.
What’s in a solid emergency plan?
Benson detailed the key components of an effective Emergency Response Plan (ERP):
- Risk assessments
- Evacuation routes & assembly points
- Defined roles (fire wardens, first responders)
- Communication protocols
- Resource allocation (first aid kits, safety equipment)
- Routine training & drills
- Post-incident reviews
“Your plan is only as good as the people implementing it,” Benson said, emphasizing that preparation must go hand in hand with regular employee training.
Employee training takes centre stage
A poll conducted during the webinar revealed nearly half of participants ranked employee training as the most critical element of emergency planning. Benson agreed:
“If your employees do not know what to do, where to go, or how to react safely, your risk assessments and fire detection systems won’t protect them.”
He added that psychological preparedness—ensuring staff can manage panic and stress—is equally important.
First aid kits and equipment: No room for complacency
Benson also reminded attendees that safety equipment must be inspected and maintained regularly. First aid kits should be checked quarterly, fire extinguishers inspected monthly, and emergency lighting systems tested at least annually.
“An emergency is the worst time to find out a fire extinguisher is empty or an exit sign isn’t lit,” he cautioned.
For businesses in shared facilities or hybrid work environments, Benson advised reviewing building-wide emergency plans and customizing them to the organization’s specific operations.
“It’s crucial to define roles within your company and ensure first aid arrangements are checked, even if you're not the building owner,” he said. Fire warden responsibilities can rotate based on employees' in-office schedules.
Benson pointed to recent incidents—such as Los Angeles wildfires, Newfoundland snowstorms, and the Toronto power outage caused by squirrels—to illustrate how both large-scale disasters and unexpected events can severely disrupt business operations.
Final takeaways for small businesses
Citation Canada left attendees with five actionable insights:
- Planning is essential.
- Training reduces vulnerability.
- Equipment must be maintained.
- Learning from past incidents strengthens future responses.
- Mental readiness is as critical as physical readiness.
“Staying prepared is about giving your team the tools and confidence to respond effectively,” concluded Smith.
