Manufacturing Safety Alliance of BC
Emergency Preparedness

Fires, earthquakes, tornadoes, floods, and power outages — whatever the emergency is — can happen without warning. Emergency preparedness ensures that when an emergency strikes, you have a plan ready to go, and are not scrambling last minute to get all your resources in order. An emergency preparedness and response plan is a document that outlines the procedures on what to do in the event of an emergency, with the end goal of protecting the health and safety of all the workers involved.

No matter your business, a good emergency plan will help you handle the various crises that may come your way. Prepare BEFORE an emergency to ensure that workers and employers have the right equipment, information, and training to keep themselves safe when a disaster occurs. Not having a plan can have catastrophic consequences for your business – including injuries, financial losses, property damage, and even death.

Basic Training
Course
Available by e-Learning
This online course explores response to emergency situations that can be encountered in manufacturing. The goal of the course is to provide a basic understanding of what to anticipate and expect when responding to an emergency.
Course
Available Virtually by Video ConferenceInstructor-Led Classroom Training
Emergency response planning is one of the key elements to include in your occupational health and safety program. This program allows you to plan out how you would respond to an emergency in the event of, which can result in saving lives, property, revenue, etc. 
Videos & Webinars
Developed in response to the wildfire emergency that B.C. is experiencing in August 2023, this session provides useful information for any crisis where people may experience anxiety. This webinar provides valuable insights and tools for anyone who may be experiencing...
Emergency Preparedness Resources and Tools
Fires, earthquakes, tornadoes, floods, and power outages — whatever the emergency is — it can happen without warning. Emergency preparedness ensures that when an emergency strikes, you have a plan ready to go, and are not scrambling last minute to get all your resources in order. An emergency preparedness and response plan is a document […]
EmergencyInfoBC is active during partial and full-scale provincial emergencies. They share official response and recovery sources, as well as verified event information from trusted partners.
This map is overseen by EmergencyInfoBC and serves as a general reference for current public safety conditions during emergencies.
Planning and preparing for emergencies and natural disasters can be hard. A support network lets two or more people help each other in an emergency.
Under the Occupational Health and Safety Regulation — specifically sections 4.13 through 4.16 and Part 32 on emergency preparedness, response, evacuation, and rescue — all employers are expected to plan, prepare, and train their employees for all emergencies.
After a disaster, the provincial government may declare the event eligible for Disaster Financial Assistance (DFA). Once declared, the DFA program may compensate applicants for essential uninsurable losses.
Supports for businesses impacted by disasters are available from the federal and provincial governments, community organizations and the private sector.
Having to flee your home, leave animals or possessions behind and relocating can cause distress, fear and anxiety for you and your loved ones.
Following an emergency or disaster, a person may experience a range of thoughts, feelings and behaviour that can be intense, confusing and frightening.
Smoke, evacuations, loss, worry—BC’s floods and wildfires affect us all. If you are feeling stressed or anxious, you are not alone.
Do you have an emergency response plan to evacuate due to the risk of a wildfire or flood? Use this checklist to build your plan.
After a disaster, the provincial government may declare the event eligible for Disaster Financial Assistance (DFA). Once declared, the DFA program may compensate applicants for essential uninsurable losses.
Flood workers should be warned that when the seemingly endless rain tapers off and the flood waters recede, they will continue to face a number of hazards associated with cleanup activities.
Heat-related illnesses happen when a person heats up faster than they can cool down. Heat-related illness can affect everyone – even those accustomed to working in the heat. If heat stress progresses to heat stroke, it is a medical emergency that, untreated, can lead to death.
The Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) Regulation and the OHS provisions of the Workers Compensation Act contain legal requirements for workplace health and safety that must be met by all workplaces under the inspection jurisdiction of WorkSafeBC.
It is natural to feel stress, anxiety, grief, and worry during and after a disaster.
Website
Current travel and road advisories and information for British Columbia.
Vehicles and drivers need to be prepared to deal with emergencies. A vehicle emergency kit with the supplies, tools, clothing and other contents that match the weather and driving conditions that vehicle will encounter is a great way to be prepared.
This resource from WorkSafeBC lists items that employers who operate in remote locations should consider as part of an Emergency Evacuation Plan.
News & Blog Articles
Our hearts are with our members in the Okanagan as you keep watch on the fires in and around West Kelowna, north Kelowna, and Keremeos—and 386 active wildfires around the province today. As your partner in health and safety, we...
In a power outage due to extreme weather or a natural disaster such as a wildfire, you may have to activate your emergency response plan. Ensure that your staff know how to safely evacuate your building(s) in an emergency and...
Why planning for a “someday situation” better equips you to tackle challenges today by  Lisa Thibault  Earthquakes, forest fires, flooding, and viral outbreaks are just a few of the potential emergency scenarios we face in British Columbia. While some companies have crafted and rehearsed plans to address emergencies such as these, many in the past two years were forced to build a response plan on...