One of the first lessons field service professionals learn is to expect the unexpected. Appointment no-shows, faulty equipment, rowdy pets, and so on are par for the course. But facing a natural disaster — like a hurricane, tornado, earthquake, fire, or flood — can take things to a new level and absolutely devastate your business. Especially if you haven’t prepared in advance. In this Checklist, we’ll go over a few actions you can take to help maintain operations during emergency situations.
If there’s one thing we’ve learned the past few years, it’s that the world can change in the blink of an eye. Having documented processes in place for emergency situations can keep your team organized and responsive before, during, and after the event. The key word here is “documented.” Having a gameplan in your mind may work for you, but it doesn’t do your team any favors. Instead, put the plan down in a document that can be shared quickly, so your team can act fast if the time ever comes to put it into action.
Buildings can be rebuilt, and vehicles can be repaired, but your employees are irreplaceable. The top items in your disaster recovery plan should put your team front and center. Create a text group for alerts and updates to maintain communication — or perhaps set up a social media group — and have people check in to let everyone know they’re OK or that they need help. Create an evacuation plan for office personnel and set up a safe place to meet. Above all, make sure everyone knows how to stay in touch.
Keeping your vehicles in good, working condition is crucial for field service providers. Depending on the situation, it may be a good idea to relocate your fleet to either a leased storage facility, sturdy parking garages, or even in alleyways where they’re less likely to take damage. Please note, it’s important to keep track of keys throughout the process and having a few copies might be a good idea.
Working with hazardous and/or expensive chemicals is part of the job for many field service professionals. So, keeping them — and applicators for that matter — out of harm’s way should be a priority when designing your disaster recovery plan. Maintaining an itemized inventory can help you keep track of everything. Likewise, moving them to a secure location nearby is a good idea — preferably somewhere off the floor and away from drains. Keeping your inventory low is also a good idea if rough conditions are on the way.
