In observance of National Safety Month and as the territory prepares for the 2011 hurricane season, one small unit is doing its part to ensure that the business community is prepared to respond to emergencies. The Safety in Paradise (SIP) Program will be hosting a free Emergency Action PlanningWorkshop to assist U.S.V.I. businesses to prevent, prepare, respond to and recover from fire, tropical storms, tsunami, workplace violence and other emergency situations that may threaten a business or its employees. The SIP Program is administered by the University of the Virgin Islands – Community Engagement and Lifelong Learning (UVICELL) Program.
National Safety Month was established by the National Safety Council in 1996 to increase awareness of the leading safety and health risks and ultimately decrease the number of unintentional injuries and deaths. As part of the observance, the SIP program will be hosting the free seminars as a way to get businesses to start preparing for the hurricane season and develop long-term plans.
On St. Croix, the workshop will be held from 9:30 a.m. to noon on Friday, June 24, at the Great Hall on the UVI Campus. On St. Thomas, the workshop will be held from 9:30 a.m. to noon on Tuesday, June 28, at the Administration and Conference Center (ACC).
“The hurricane season has just begun and forecasters are already predicting an above-normal season, but there are also many other natural and workplace disasters to consider,” said Ilene Garner, UVICELL director and SIP program manager. “It is critical that the business community take the appropriate steps to prepare for the likelihood of such occurrences and put a contingency plan in place to minimize the effects should a situation occur.”
The half-day workshops will focus on the development of an organized plan for reducing the adverse impact of emergencies on businesses. It will also address the importance of maintaining compliance with OSHA regulations and increasing the likelihood that businesses can effectively resume operations after an emergency.
Although the workshop is free, participants must register to reserve a seat. For more information on the workshop or the free consultation services offered, contact the Safety In Paradise Program at 693-1146 on St. Thomas or 713-1619 on St. Croix or send an e-mail to safetyinparadise@uvi.edu.
