West Bend, WI – Wisconsin’s rich landscape is dotted with agribusinesses such as farms, cheese factories, seed and equipment dealers and agritourism ventures that bring agricultural experience to tourists, families and students. Agribusinesses can face unexpected man-made, natural and technological emergencies and disasters such as severe storms, tornadoes, grain entrapments, fires, technology disruptions, supply chain disruptions and chemical releases and spills.
Agribusiness leaders can take a proactive approach to lessening the impacts of unexpected emergencies and disasters by developing emergency preparedness plans, providing emergency preparedness training for employees and contractors and building relationships with first responders and community partners to enhance operational continuity.
Agribusiness emergency preparedness plans identify and organize employer and worker responsibilities in preparation for a workplace emergency or disaster. Developing and implementing a plan can lessen confusion, decrease injuries, and limit destruction of property. Plans should be reviewed at least annually and shared with new employees.
Agribusiness emergency and disaster training is an important part of a good emergency preparedness plan. Training should be conducted periodically to maintain workplace preparedness. Examples of employee training include reviewing evacuation plans, shutdown procedures, types of potential emergencies, chemical release procedures and reporting procedures for personnel. Exercises and drills are excellent tools to test emergency plans and identify opportunities for improvement in planning and training.
Preplanning with first responders and other community partners helps develop relationships and identify specific agribusiness layouts and hazards. Inviting first responders and community partners to tour the business and pre-plan response is a great way to build relationships.
Washington County Office of Emergency Management encourages members of the agribusiness community to check out this Emergency Preparedness for Farmworkers safety fact sheet, the USDA Protection and Recovery website and your local UW Extension office to help your agribusiness learn more about emergency preparedness planning to better prepare for unexpected emergencies and disasters!
