It’s no secret that all businesses should have a plan in case of emergency. For construction companies, it’s extremely important because the business can be shut down due to disasters or unexpected events.

From natural catastrophes to global pandemics, a crisis can come at any moment and have a huge impact on jobsites and projects, affecting all subcontractors and trades involved. This includes carpenters, laborers, plumbers and electricians. No matter what happens or who’s on the job, every emergency requires prompt action to help minimize or control the potential effects on the business and development. So, knowing what to do and how to create a crisis management plan can help.

A Crisis Can Come Out of Nowhere

Construction contractors, such as residential and commercial plumbers, municipalities and pipe cleaning contractors, may encounter an unplanned event that requires immediate and decisive management action. This event may involve such things as:

• a natural disaster;
• major medical emergency;
• fire;
• crane or scaffolding collapse;
• a hazardous material event;
• threats of violence;
• serious injury/fatality; or
• any physical situation that endangers people on-site or the project itself.

And a crisis can occur on active or inactive jobsite. Idle construction projects are not immune from a crisis, and can present challenging conditions as well, so a risk assessment plan as part of a comprehensive crisis management plan can also help reduce the sudden impact and likelihood of losses. The key to success is the implementation of tactics that are specific for the type of construction and project location, as well as clearly communicating the plan’s strategy and initiatives to all contractors involved with the site.

It’s important for the plan to have specific steps to follow in creating and navigating a successful course of action that mitigates fallout from the crisis and protects workers, neighbors and the community.

Economic Crises

There may also be a crisis situation involving economic impacts, such as labor disputes, loss of key personnel, technology breakdowns delaying communications or problems with material delivery schedules. These, too, can evolve into crisis situations that may present threats to the firm’s reputation, ability to conduct business and ultimately its overall financial success.

Develop a Written Plan

Regardless of the type of event or situation, a crisis requires prompt action to help minimize or control the potential impact. To help prepare for such possible scenarios, companies should develop a written plan for their specific construction sites. The crisis management plan should outline step-by-step procedures and responsibilities for all personnel on-site as well as key personnel off-site.

The following steps may be used as a guide for construction companies, contractors and subcontractors to navigate the situation:

Step 1: Identify Potential Crisis. The planning process should begin with an attempt to identify any potential crisis before construction begins. Tailor the plan to the nature of the project. For example, construction companies should examine risk factors and unique hazards for each jobsite and evaluate weather patterns and external conditions that could lead to a crisis on the jobsite. Then, the construction team should evaluate and consider the equipment and materials to be used and establish site security measures to help mitigate any fallout from a mishap.

The plan should also ensure that adequate resources are available to effectively deal with the crisis. Construction company leaders and jobsite forepersons should assess emergency escape routes, particularly if there are multiple floors or remote work areas involved and take evacuation procedures into consideration. In addition, it is imperative to make note of available off-site resources, including the proximity of hospitals, police/fire departments and other first aid responders.

Step 2: Select Responders and Their Roles. The plan should identify the best people to respond to and manage a crisis, which is key at the early stages of the process because it establishes a crisis management team that begins with a team leader responsible for coordinating activities. This crisis management team should hold regular meetings to discuss step-by-step plans for specific emergency situations and define each person’s role before, during and after a crisis. From here, responsibilities would be assigned for collecting statements, preserving evidence and other areas of investigation. At the regular meetings, team members would also review and discuss progress or updates to the written plans in order to maintain transparency and operational efficiency.

Step 3: Establish Communication Channels and Chains of Command. Next, a communications plan that enables all members of the crisis management team to contact one another should be created, and an off-site staging area or command center needs to be identified in order to designate a place where the crisis plan can be coordinated from when the crisis occurs.

It is also important to develop a network that facilitates immediate contact between first responders and construction engineers, project managers or others who have detailed knowledge of the infrastructure, while maintaining a list of key personnel for suppliers and subcontractors, as well as utility company contacts. Then, the company should form an efficient and effective way to promptly communicate with employees and their families in the event of an emergency.

Step 4: Develop a Public Relations Policy and Plan. It’s imperative to not only have a plan to deal with the realities, but also to handle the perceptions of the crisis. Construction companies should formulate a public relations strategy and appoint an individual who’ll be responsible for media relations in the event of a crisis. This is important because the image and reputation of the company and its leaders is at stake during a crisis. One misstep or misstatement can cause irreparable damage to a company’s credibility and revenue following a crisis. As a result, a business should establish a strict policy that only approved, accurate information is to be released to the media.

Step 5: Conduct Practice Drills and Train New Workers. Ideally, in order to test the crisis plan, a business should conduct mock drills aimed at increasing preparedness and identifying weaknesses. As part of their jobsite orientation, construction workers should receive detailed instructions on what to do in a crisis. The information should be updated regularly as the construction project moves toward completion or as new personnel rotate in. Planning is a necessary part of any construction project, and a carefully considered crisis management plan can help contractors quickly take charge and more efficiently manage unplanned events.

If remembering all the things that need to take place before an emergency is difficult, The Hartford offers a convenient checklist to help make sure key considerations are not overlooked. This may help ensure construction sites and projects stay as safe and secure as possible.