Workplace safety
Workplace tornado drills
Most workplaces have never practiced a tornado drill. Here is what employers should actually do to keep workers alive.
The stakes
Workplace tornado deaths happen every year. The 2013 Moore tornado killed 24 including workers in a hospital and a business. The 2011 Joplin tornado killed workers in a Home Depot and Walmart.
Businesses are legally responsible for reasonable safety measures.
The OSHA situation
- OSHA does NOT have a specific tornado standard.
- General Duty Clause applies.
- FEMA recommends drills.
- Some states have specific requirements.
- Some industries have specific mandates.
- Best practice regardless of law.
The emergency action plan
Every workplace should have a written EAP covering:
- Evacuation procedures.
- Shelter-in-place procedures.
- Communication systems.
- Head-count procedures.
- Emergency contact information.
- Utility shutoff procedures.
- Post-emergency recovery.
- Regular drill schedule.
- Training requirements.
- Review schedule.
The shelter selection
Basement
Best if available.
Interior first-floor room
Away from windows. Reinforced if possible.
Interior bathrooms
Small, plumbed walls provide protection.
Interior stairwells
Concrete construction ideal.
AVOID
Gymnasiums, cafeterias, warehouses, mobile buildings.
AVOID
Exterior walls, windows, glass doors.
For high-rise
Interior stairwell on lower floor.
For open-plan
Nearest structurally-hardened area.
Drill frequency
- Minimum: annual.
- Better: semi-annual.
- Best: quarterly.
- Include night shift.
- Include vendors and visitors.
- Include people with disabilities.
- Include remote workers (their own plans).
- Time drill and improve.
Communication systems
NOAA Weather Radio
In every facility.
Overhead PA
For announcements.
Emergency alert (mass text)
For roving employees.
Backup phones
Landline or satellite.
WEA on personal phones
Verified enabled.
Local municipal alerts
Nixle or similar.
Emergency management contact
Established relationship.
The trigger
- Weather radio issues tornado warning.
- Manager on duty confirms.
- Announces shelter-in-place immediately.
- Employees move to designated locations.
- Head count completed.
- Wait for all-clear from NWS.
- Do not release employees to leave.
- Do not accept "just running to car."
The specific industries
Retail
Manage customers plus employees. Consider parking-lot decisions.
Hospitals
Cannot evacuate. Must shelter in place. Specific patient handling.
Schools
Detailed drill protocols. Legal mandates in some states.
Manufacturing
Shutdown of machines. Chemical handling.
Warehouse
Poor shelter options. Consider dedicated safe rooms.
Restaurant
Manage kitchen, guests, alcohol.
Hotel
Manage guests, staff, some vulnerability.
Construction
Site-specific plans. Vehicle shelter fallback.
Agriculture
Field workers may be far from shelter.
For small businesses
- Basic plan takes 1-2 hours to write.
- Free templates available.
- FEMA has small business guidance.
- Insurance may require.
- Better than no plan.
- Update annually.
- Practice with 5-10 minute drills.
- Nothing is trivial.
For large facilities
- Dedicated emergency management personnel.
- Multi-location coordination.
- Mass notification systems.
- Detailed floor plans with shelter locations.
- Vendor and visitor procedures.
- ADA-compliant shelter access.
- Regular tabletop exercises.
- Integration with local emergency management.
- Communication with adjacent businesses.
- Coordinated post-storm plans.
Post-tornado protocols
- Head count completed.
- Injured identified and cared for.
- Fire/EMS called for medical.
- Building assessed by qualified personnel.
- Utilities shut off if needed.
- Insurance notification.
- Business continuity plan activated.
- Employees released only when safe.
- Follow-up counseling offered.
- Post-event debrief.
Legal considerations
- Failure to warn workers = liability exposure.
- Reasonable emergency measures = protected.
- Documentation matters.
- Insurance depends on plan existence.
- Post-event claims easier with plan documentation.
- Consult employment attorney.
The employee side
- Know your workplace shelter location.
- Know evacuation route.
- Know how you'll be notified.
- Know who calls emergency contacts.
- Wear closed-toe shoes at work if possible.
- Keep phone charged.
- Emergency snacks in desk.
- First aid kit at workstation.
- Take drills seriously.
- Ask questions of manager.