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New Report on Emergency Preparedness for Federal Workers

The Department of Labor's Office of Disability Employment Policy recently released a report that gives federal officials and workers recommendations on ensuring a safe and secure environment for the more than 120,000 employees with disabilities who work in the federal government. The 80-page report, "Emergency Preparedness for People with Disabilities: An Interagency Seminar of Exchange for Federal Managers," concludes that communicating with employees is the key to developing, implementing and maintaining emergency plans that address the unique needs of employees with disabilities.

The report also encourages:

* Senior-level management "buy-in" and a total budget and personnel commitment by each agency
* Agencies to build flexibility into their plans for evacuating and assisting people with disabilities by instituting backup emergency support plans
* Agencies to rigorously practice the plan with all employees so that they may become familiar with it and allow managers to evaluate the plan's strengths and weaknesses and make improvements

"Making the federal workplace a model workplace by assuring a safe and secure environment for employees with disabilities is critical," said DOL Secretary Elaine L. Chao. "President Bush has challenged us to remove barriers that impede Americans with disabilities from leading full and independent lives."

"There is no 'One Size Fits All' when it comes to emergency preparedness," said ODEP Assistant Secretary Roy Grizzard. "Today's report will help agencies create thorough and comprehensive emergency plans that provide for an appropriate course of action for all employees in an emergency situation."

View the full report on the Department of Labor's website.