HEALTH, SAFETY & WELLBEING THE GROWING THREAT OF EXTREME WEATHER


Hein Hemke, Managing Director at BELFOR UK, explains why FMs need a robust recovery plan for adverse weather events.


As the frequency and severity of extreme weather events continue to increase, facility managers face an ever- growing need to integrate disaster preparedness into their health and safety strategies.


The impact of intense weather on properties and infrastructure is becoming more widespread and destructive, creating urgent challenges that cannot be ignored. From floods and storms to heatwaves and freezing temperatures, the facilities management sector, like many others, is feeling the strain. FMs are being tasked with ensuring that their facilities are ready to withstand these unpredictable events or recover rapidly if disaster strikes.


"Adverse weather events are set to intensify due to climate change, increasing the risks to infrastructure, businesses, and communities."


The rising threat According to climate experts, adverse weather events are set to intensify due to climate change, increasing the risks to infrastructure, businesses, and communities. For business and property owners, the challenge lies not only in reacting to disasters, but anticipating them. The unpredictable nature of these events means that planning for every possibility is essential, to ensure you have the right response strategies in place.


The growing demand for


restoration services When disaster strikes, property owners need to act fast to return to normalcy. This has resulted in an urgent need for effective restoration services that can mitigate damage quickly and efficiently.


However, this heightened demand presents challenges of its own. Limited availability of skilled workers and resources can delay recovery efforts, leaving businesses and property owners at risk of prolonged disruptions.


The restoration process itself needs more than just personnel—it requires a network of trained professionals, equipment, and materials that can be mobilised swiftly. Having a disaster recovery plan in place is now not just a best practice but a crucial element of a broader health and safety strategy.


Plan ahead With extreme weather events on the rise, facility managers must take proactive steps to prepare for


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potential disasters. The ability to respond quickly and effectively to these events is the key to minimising damage and reducing business interruption.


A well-rounded disaster recovery plan can be the difference between getting back to normal operations swiftly or facing prolonged downtime. FMs must ensure that their response plans are up to date, with detailed procedures in place for every type of potential disaster. This includes having the right contacts, resources, and services lined up to assist in the recovery process.


At the heart of this preparation is partnering with trusted restoration companies that can offer rapid response services. For example, our RED ALERT service is structured to work with your own emergency procedures so that when the unexpected happens, an action plan can be initiated with speed and effectiveness.


After a thorough survey of your site, we create a blueprint, to ensure we know exactly where key locations and assets are, and we review this en-route to your location so we can spring into action as soon as we arrive.


This service also enables our customers to jump straight to the top of the queue when an incident occurs, meaning an experienced team will be sent directly to your site within four hours, or less, in most cases. It is certainly worth investing in such a service to ensure that if the worst does happen, your incident takes precedence, enabling you to get back up and running sooner than the rest.


Looking ahead As climate change accelerates, the restoration industry’s role will only grow, and facility managers will play a central part in ensuring the swift recovery of their businesses and operations.


By prioritising preparedness, FMs can not only minimise risk but also help their businesses recover more quickly in the face of adversity.


www.belfor.com/uk


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