Undertaking an Earthquake Drill

Undertaking an Earthquake Drill

ZUNE TH

S AT TA R

Undertaking an Earthquake Drill Zuneth Sattar

One of the factors that differentiate earthquakes from other large natural disasters is that earthquakes themselves are rarely responsible for injuries, deaths, and destruction. Instead, much of the damage is caused by the secondary hazards they trigger, such as collapsed structures and falling objects. As such, risk-reduction measures are necessary, as is preparedness in any setting.

Conducting an earthquake drill in an office environment is one way to build awareness of proper response measures. Such a drill will have the following components:

Alarm This signal indicates the possibility of an earthquake and acts as a warning for everyone to take cover.

Response In response to the alarm, individuals should take cover in a safe place such as under a heavy desk or table, away from tall office cabinets, lights and windows. Running outside is not advisable once an earthquake is underway.

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Evacuation and Assembly Once the quake stops, everyone should leave their cover and assemble in a pre-established safe area. Evacuees should be placed in distinct groups to facilitate a quick rollcall to establish if there are any missing people.

Evaluation An assessment of the drill should be undertaken to identify any gaps in instruction or potential obstacles to a seamless process.

An assessment of the drill should be undertaken to identify any gaps in instruction or potential obstacles to a seamless process.

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