September is Emergency Preparedness Month | | |
Coincidentally, it’s also the perfect time for us to remind you about all the things you hope you never have to deal with—but really should be prepared for anyway. Fires, truck fires, evacuations, fire extinguishers, emergency action plans, inspections, recordkeeping….and yes, unfortunately, there’s even paperwork involved in some emergencies.
That’s where we come in. WECA is here to help make sure you have the tools, resources, and regulatory guidance you need before an emergency becomes a “well….now what?” situation.
In this edition of the Regulatory Rundown, we are focusing on fire prevention, emergency preparedness, and the regulatory requirements that come with both.
Because when it comes to emergencies, “we’ll figure it out when it happens” is technically a plan, but probably not a very good one.
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Before We Get Started....A Few Questions
Do you have a fleet?
✓ Great!
Now imagine one of those trucks is on fire. Do you have fire extinguishers?
✓ Excellent!
When were they last inspected? 🤔
Do you have a fire suppression system?
✓ Fantastic!
When was it last tested? 🤔
Being equipped is only half the battle. Regular inspections and testing ensure your safety systems are ready when needed most.
Now for the fun one…
What would you do if your building burned down?
Not "call the fire department." We assume that part is covered.
After the fire is out, what happens next?
- What would you do Monday morning?
- Where would your employees report?
- Where would you park the trucks?
- Where would you get your materials?
- How would you access your records?
- How would you dispatch crews?
And most importantly...
How would you continue providing service to your members?
That's the less glamorous, but arguably more important, side of emergency preparedness. Being prepared isn't just about putting out the fire. It's about having a plan for what comes next.
| | FIRE PREVENTION & EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS CHECKLIST | | | |  | Are they inspected monthly? Are they accessible, properly located, charged, undamaged, and properly tagged? | | | | | Keep documentation showing the work was completed—OSHA places responsibility on the employer even when an outside contractor performs the work. | | | | | Fixed extinguishing systems generally require an annual inspection by someone knowledgeable in the system’s design and function. Certain refillable containers also require semiannual weight/pressure checks. | | Fire Alarm / Detection Systems | | | Are your detection and alarm systems being inspected, tested, and maintained according to the applicable requirements for your system? | | | | | Does your plan address reporting a fire, evacuation routes, accountability, critical operations, rescue/medical duties, and whom employees should contact? | | | | | Do employees actually know what they’re supposed to do when the alarm goes off? OSHA requires employees designated to assist with evacuation to be trained. | | | | | When was the last evacuation drill? Did you evaluate what went well and what didn’t? OSHA recommends practicing drills and reviewing the results. | | | | | Are emergency exits, emergency lighting, alarms, fire doors, eyewash stations, etc. being checked as applicable? | | | | | Are combustible materials, flammable liquids, welding/hot work, electrical equipment, charging stations, and other ignition sources being addressed? | | | | | If the building were unavailable tomorrow, where would employees work, trucks operate, materials be stored, and critical records be accessed? | | WELCOME TO THE TEAM, ANN! | | |
We’re excited to welcome Ann Winch to the WECA Compliance Team! Ann brings nearly 30 years of experience with Lands’ End, most recently serving as an Environmental Health, Safety & Sustainability Manager.
Her combination of safety knowledge, compliance experience, and real-world perspective will be a tremendous asset as we continue building and expanding WECA’s statewide compliance program.
We’re thrilled to have her on board—and, after a few months of searching, interviewing, planning, and generally making this hiring process far more complicated than it needed to be, we’re especially happy to finally say: Welcome, Ann! We’re glad you’re here!
| | Please don’t hesitate to reach out to our compliance team members with general questions, assistance, or sample documents and forms. | | | | | Wisconsin Electric Cooperative Association6405 Century Avenue, Suite 102 Middleton, WI 53562-2200 US | | | | |
