The facilities safety lead prepares buildings to withstand natural disasters and other emergencies. They also oversee facility recovery, cleanup, and repair with program administrators.
Preparedness Actions
- Leads the facility disaster management team and with the team does a strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats (SWOT) analysis of the facility’s ability to protect the safety of children and staff during a disaster
- Completes a hazard mitigation report and recommends repairs or renovations to issues found in the SWOT analysis and facility disaster management plan
- Contacts local utility providers (e.g., gas, electricity, water, telephone, internet, and trash removal) to learn what information to include in the disaster preparedness plan
- Assesses the need for a generator for power outages
- Makes sure that all staff know the location of emergency exits, evacuation gathering locations, and relocation sites and are trained to use emergency equipment
- Checks guidance from the local, state, territorial, or Tribal health department during disease outbreaks, epidemics, and pandemics
Response Actions
- Assesses the building for unsafe conditions and shuts off utilities if needed
- Reports unsafe conditions and facility damage to the incident leader
- Secures entrances and exits if needed during a lockdown
- Starts the generator if needed, according to the manufacturer’s safety instructions
Recovery Actions
- Completes a damage assessment and helps the incident leader file claims with insurance providers if needed
- Keeps records, including photos, of damage to the facility
- Assesses the need for repair, and works with the incident leader and program administrators to find and contact vendors for emergency repairs or replacement of damaged structures and equipment
- Works with vendors to find and address concerns about mold and air quality if applicable
- With the incident leader, makes sure the facility is cleared for reopening by licensing and local emergency officials
- With the program’s facility disaster management team and disaster preparedness task force, assesses how well the facilities responded and recommends improvements as needed
