Planning + Practice = Preparedness: A case study in injury prevention

Article type: Research Article

Authors: Comstock, R. Dawn | Archer, Pam

Affiliations: Oklahoma State Department of Health, Injury Prevention Service, 1000 N.E. 10th Street, Oklahoma City, OK 73117, USA. Tel.: +1 405 271 3430; Fax: +1 405 271 2799; E-mail: [email protected]

Note: [] Corresponding author

Abstract: At 5:30 p.m. on May 8, 2003, 1,200 employees were at work at the Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, General Motors Production Plant when it was hit by an F4 tornado. Although the plant sustained extensive structural damage none of the employees were injured. The plant's commitment to emergency response planning, the routine practice of those plans through drills, tests, and education, and the smooth implementation of the plan at the appropriate time helped prevent injury and potential loss of life. This case study provides an example of effective injury prevention.

Keywords: tornado, workplace safety, warning siren, underground shelter

Journal: Work, vol. 23, no. 3, pp. 199-204, 2004