Tornadoes can form quickly, with little or no warning, says Stacy Friling.
That’s a key reason businesses need to have a written plan in place telling workers what to do in such situations, says Friling, a Johnson County-based risk control account executive for Travelers Insurance.
Workplaces should also hold tornado drills at least once a year so employees can be prepared to execute their plan in the event of a severe weather emergency, she said.
Employers are responsible for the safety and health of their workers and for providing them a safe and healthy workplace, said the website of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration.
Why is preparation crucial?
With tornado season just around the corner, Friling talked last week with The Capital-Journal about steps businesses can take to be prepared.
She said twisters are most common during the spring and early summer in “tornado alley,” the plains states east of the Rocky Mountains.
Kansas ranks second among U.S. states, behind Texas, in tornadoes recorded since 1950.