Fewer than one in three (31 percent) U.S. employees believe their workplace is proactive about emergency preparedness, according to the results of a recent survey commissioned by Cintas Corporation. This was based on a survey conducted by Harris Interactive among 2,019 adults ages 18 and older.
“Since many employed adults spend the majority of their waking hours in the workplace, organizations need to be prepared to handle injuries, health emergencies or inclement weather with both proactive and reactive solutions,” said Jamie Samide, senior director of marketing for Cintas. “However, our survey highlights a gaping hole in organizational preparedness.”
Proactive solutions include training, personal protective equipment (PPE) and emergency response plans. Yet, of employed U.S. adults:
- More than three-quarters (76 percent) say their workplace has not conducted emergency drills in preparation of weather-related disasters
- Less than 20 percent (18 percent) indicate their workplace has provided training about medical emergencies such as diabetic attacks, strokes and choking
- Only 43 percent say their workplace has an emergency response plan in place
- Just 19 percent note that their workplace has asked employees to be part of an emergency response team
Although many workplaces have reactive solutions like first-aid cabinets in place, employee education and regular maintenance of items are lacking. The results reveal:
- 94 percent of employed U.S. adults indicate their workplace has a dedicated first-aid kit or cabinet on site, but 51 percent do not know where it is located
- 58 percent of employees say their workplace’s first aid kit or cabinet is not kept stocked with necessary items
This survey was conducted online within the United States by Harris Interactive on behalf of Cintas from September 9-11, 2013 among 2,019 adults ages 18 and older, of whom, 916 are employed full-time and/or part-time.
