Example of a 3 month Preparedness Programme for New Zealand ShakeOut 2012

Month / Monthly theme / Participants / Activities
July / Personal preparedness in the home and office / Management/ Health & Safety rep /
  • Initiate a campaign to staff and others as appropriate, with information and tips on how to prepare for earthquakes at home and work (www.getthru.govt.nz).
  • Get creative with competitions to encourage participation. For example, all staff could send in photos of their emergency survival items and there could be a challenge to see who has the most unique item!

All staff /
  • Create, or review a Household Emergency Plan (including a plan for how to contact family, colleagues, and friends).
  • Create, or review household Emergency Survival Items and Getaway Kits.
  • Get your car ready.
  • Quake Safe Your Home (Fix, Fasten, Forget).
  • Create, or review Getaway Kits in the office (a walk around audit of kits is suggested).
  • Consider a plan for how to get home following an earthquake (taking into account possible blocked roads, lack of transportation, and weather).

August / Organisational preparedness / Management/ Health & Safety rep /
  • Ensure your staff (and other key persons) contact details are up to date.
  • Create, review and/or test your Business Continuity Plan/Workplace Emergency Plan.
  • Remind staff (and others as appropriate) of workplace procedures in the event of an earthquake (evacuation procedures, expectations of staff and others).
  • Remind staff of where emergency survival items in the workplace are stored (these may need to be created/reviewed).
  • Provide refresher training for fire wardens/first aid representatives if required.

All staff /
  • Ensure familiarity with workplace procedures in the event of an earthquake.

September / Drop, Cover and Hold! / Management/ Health & Safety rep /
  • Remind staff (and others) about what the right actions to take in an earthquake are (Drop, Cover and Hold).
  • Lead staff (and others) in the Drop, Cover and Hold drill at 9:26-26:9. Consider evacuating the building and/or carrying other procedures as per your workplace emergency plan immediately following the drill.
  • Review the Drop, Cover and Hold drill and preparedness actions taken leading up to the drill. Consider what actions you may need to do to in order to ensure your organisation continues to be prepared.

All staff /
  • Participate in the New Zealand ShakeOut Drop, Cover and Hold drill at 9.26 am on Wednesday 26 September 2012.

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