What European Businesses Can Learn From California's Ongoing Wildfire Crisis

With tens of thousands of people being evacuated in northern California due to wildfires, many are wondering what the impact on business will be. The state of California is the 5th largest economy in the world, with a higher GDP than many wealthy European countries, including the United Kingdom. Many businesses are located in this part of the world, and natural disasters can disrupt the supply chain and threaten the health of workers. On 1st November 2019, the European Commission revealed that there were more forest fires in European countries in 2018 than there have ever been before. Businesses must learn how to protect themselves from such a threat.

Climate Change Is A Matter Of Business Security

Forest fires are a direct result of rising carbon emissions. While the EU is passing legislation to force businesses to reduce their impact, this isn't enough. Entrepreneurs across the continent must become more innovative and come up with the technology that enables even the smallest businesses to afford to go green. More investment needs to be put into tackling climate change for the sake of business security.

Protect Your Buildings From Fire Hazards

The physical safety of your offices is now more important than ever. Business security systems supplier, ThinkDSC, recommends installing a fire alarm system and having it inspected. You should also ensure that your building does not use flammable materials, and that workers are educated on spotting and dealing with fire hazards. In the wake of the Grenfell Tower Inquiry in the UK, it is clear that many buildings are not fit for purpose with regards to fire safety.

Train Staff In How To Respond To Crises

For small businesses, natural disaster safety might not be high on the training agenda. They want staff to be able to do their jobs, and don't necessarily have the resources to teach extra skills. However, with the risk of forest fires on the rise, it will become an inevitable part of an employee's induction to a business. Go through the building and point out the safety features in place, as well as how to use them. Regular fire drills should be mandatory in any European workplace.

Climate change is likely to affect EU businesses negatively if something isn't done soon. Lawmakers and activists play their own roles in reducing CO2 emissions, but it is up to the innovators and business leaders to get involved as well. Once effective and low cost technology exists, we can protect the small and medium sized businesses who are so important for the economy of the EU.