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LA Works Staff learn earthquake preparation Irwindale, CA – The staff at LA Works focused on earthquake safety during their annual Safety Day event held on November 16, 2005. Always aware that we live in an area prone to seismic activity, LA Works has consistently sought to establish systems and procedures to protect our employees and customers and to ensure that we can resume operations as quickly as possible after an earthquake. To this end we invited April Kelcy, an educator and consultant in life safety and owner of Earthquake Solutions of Monrovia, to provide specific training on what to do before, during and after an earthquake. Ms. Kelcy focused our attention on the ‘hot moment’, the seconds immediately after the onset of an earthquake. It is during these critical seconds that a decision concerning what to do can mean the difference between surviving without injury or becoming a victim. She took particular effort to explain why it is so important to choose the proper reaction for an earthquake, which is not to try to run out of an area where glass is breaking and things are falling, but rather to protect ourselves so that we can make our way to safety once the shaking has stopped. We were educated not only in the proper duck and cover positions but also in why they are effective. Realizing that often we are not close enough to a desk or table under which to take cover, Ms. Kelcy taught us how to use our hands and arms to protect our eyes and head and that a ‘pill bug’ pose is most effective for protection when we are out in the open. Acknowledging that our emotions play a key role in determining our actions, she conducted an exercise that allowed staff to feel the apprehension experienced in an emergency, and then taught some techniques to help minimize anxiety and help us remain calm. One such technique is to count out loud during the actual earthquake. Turning our focus to counting each individual second gave us something to do, which helps provide a sense of control. It is also calming to see that the earthquake is actually much shorter than it feels! A regular part of the Safety Day event is an emergency drill. In order to reinforce the proper earthquake reaction of duck and cover, the drill was held several days later. In order to ensure that the entire event could be monitored, the Safety Brigade was involved in the drill. Safety Brigade members are stationed in every department of the building and were able to observe how staff members responded during the earthquake simulation. After the drill, staff gathered in the boardroom to discuss the effectiveness of the event and make suggestions for future drills. One suggestion concerns incorporating our customers and visitors into the drills in order to ensure their safety should they happen to be visiting LA Works during an actual seismic event. In addition to regular drills and safety inspections,
we are having an Earthquake Kit contest in order to encourage staff to
be able to exist as comfortably as possible should an earthquake occur
while they are at work. For more information about LA Works, contact Sandy Meza, Public Relations and Business Services Coordinator |
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