Prepare to Expect the Unexpected: How UG2 Excels in Emergency Preparedness
Keeping employees, tenants, and visitors safe in our managed facilities is a complex and evolving challenge—so much so that UG2 has our own dedicated team of safety experts who are deeply involved in refining our overarching practices and delivering ongoing training to every team member across the company.
We built UG2 from the ground up with a very intentional safety-first mentality—and saw our proactive approach pay off when we implemented our strategic programs during the COVID-19 pandemic.
In facility management, emergency preparedness requires a tiered response that we adapt to the unique needs of our customers, and continuously refine based on prompt incident reviews, advances in technology, and emerging best practices.
Elements of a successful emergency response practice include:
Seamless communications. At UG2, we prioritize communications strategies among our teams and with our customers in everything we do. We often have to make sure our customers can effectively communicate emergency response-related messages to their constituents and teams that will be impacted, such as backup systems in the event of a power outage. A detailed emergency communications plan—internal and external—is a critical component of emergency planning.
Individualized preparedness planning. UG2 acts as an extension of our customers’ leadership teams by partnering with the customer in developing a plan that is not only informed by best practices but also tailored to the unique needs of each facility. We consider our customers’ workplace culture, practices, and staffing along with facility specifics and the physical environment. An effective plan defines every individual’s role in the response, details mission-critical functions, assesses vulnerabilities, and accounts for the changing needs of building occupants.
Drills, testing and inspections. Being proactive is essential, and our teams regularly inspect and test our customers’ security, fire, and life safety systems and ensure compliance with local regulations and safety codes. Preparedness demands that we go above and beyond those basics and regularly run through the emergency plans themselves, continuously refining them based on real-world testing and feedback from key stakeholders, and then communicating updates to all involved.
Systems integration. Having an expert facility services provider addressing all your facility management needs has numerous benefits, including the increased capacity for systems integration. That means, for example, connecting notification and emergency communication systems with fire detection systems, lighting, and HVAC sensors. Effective systems integration improves performance, allows for collection of critical data, and yields faster response times in a crisis.
24/7 mobile maintenance. UG2’s expert technicians are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year to immediately respond to mechanical, electrical, and general maintenance issues that arise with an emergency. We have the capacity to deploy technicians professionally trained with special certifications in Universal EPA, Building Automation, and Infrared Scanning along with trade licenses in areas such as electrical, plumbing and HVAC. This not only advances safety, but it also minimizes downtime and the toll such interruptions take on your business and employees.
Having an incident free history doesn’t always mean a safe operation is in place, being prepared for an unexpected outcome is how we measure the level of safety in our managed facilities.
Safety and preparedness depend on advance preparation, which is why they are key topics integrated into all of UG2’s meetings and trainings—with management, subject matter experts, and facility managers involved in developing protocols and deploying action steps when a plan is activated.
Do you have questions about preparing your facility for emergencies and adverse events? Contact UG2 today, and we will happily connect you with one of our on-staff experts.