Help in an emergency situation

It may seem unlikely – a situation where you cannot get to your own office or business premises. But various circumstances may force you to temporarily close your premises.

In what circumstances would your business have to close?

Business premises must be closed as soon as the physical safety of staff or customers is at risk, or when there is so much damage that the premises no longer comply with working conditions regulations (Arbo) and building regulations.

Examples include:

• Fire and smoke damage, including damage caused by a fire near your premises.
• Risk of collapse, for example after an explosion or collision.
• Water damage or flooding, for example caused by a burst pipe or a sprinkler.
• Structural problems, for example after heavy snowfall or rain.
• Water or power cuts; in some cases, your business may have to close. For example, because the toilets can no longer be flushed.
• Toxic substances which may be released, for example, if a cooling system leaks or at nearby businesses that handle hazardous materials.
• Carbon monoxide, caused by a faulty boiler or heater.
• Cyberattack. Hackers may block electronic doors or disable the fire alarm.

Why should I prepare now?

Why should you start preparing now for a situation that may never arise? Because, with very little effort and a few simple arrangements, you can make sure that your business does not come to a complete standstill in an emergency.

It is wise to prepare emergency plans because:

• Any loss of time directly costs you turnover.
• Stress and panic mount when nobody knows what to do.
• Customers expect clarity quickly.
• Suppliers depend on your business continuity.
• Some insurers have business continuity requirements.
• Risk of reputational damage if you cannot be reached. 

Tip

Making a few arrangements in advance can save you days of recovery work in the event of a crisis.

Solutions

If you cannot work at your business premises for a while, you will want to continue operations somewhere else. If you and your colleagues can work from home, the solution is easy. During and after the lockdowns of the 2020 pandemic, we saw just how quickly you can set up arrangements for things like meetings with colleagues. 

But the issue is not quite so easy for every business owner. Bakers or garage owners face a different challenge. In an emergency, they need much more to be able to work from a different location. That is why it is important to make arrangements in advance. If you only do this when you are in a difficult situation, you will lose a lot of time. This will result in extra costs and a longer period of lost turnover.

Tip

Do you make arrangements with another business owner to be each other's backup location? Then take a good look at each other’s locations straight away. That way, you will have a clearer idea of what to expect.

What do you need at an alternative workplace?

Are you going to be working at a different location for a while? If so, you will probably need some of your own equipment, and perhaps certain facilities. A baker needs ovens, kneading machines, and raw ingredients. A garage owner needs a car lift and specialist tools. So just any old warehouse will not do as a second workplace. 

Find a suitable party to make arrangements with in good time. Perhaps, in an emergency, you could turn to another baker in the area, and vice versa. 

Tip

Make a list of what you need for your work (materials, data, contact details, raw materials) so that you can carry on working from another location in an emergency.

Customers helped quickly

Garage owner Erik Idenburg from Delft has already made arrangements. “If we’re without power, we can refer customers to a nearby garage.” To help out other garages, he is open to other garages’ customers who find themselves in need.

Idenburg has already experienced a few occasions when his lifts stopped working. An MOT or repair was impossible. “Thanks to the arrangements we’ve made, customers can still be helped quickly.” Idenburg himself receives a fee for referring new customers to the other garage.  

So Idenburg Car Solutions has a solution for customers if the business comes to a standstill. But not for his own turnover, as it is not possible for his staff to work elsewhere. “We need bridges for that. We don’t have any arrangements in place that would allow our team to work at another garage in such circumstances.”

Which organisations help you in an emergency?

Depending on the situation, the municipality and the provincial board will help in an emergency. For example, the municipality may take measures to ensure your premises remain accessible, or help you find emergency accommodation, for instance following a fire.

Are you a member of a sector organisation? If so, make use of the support they offer. A sector organisation can represent your interests, provide advice, and perhaps even offer useful assistance through its network of members. Locally, your network within a business association can also be of great help to you.

Tip

The central government wants citizens and businesses to prepare for an emergency. Assistance, in the form of advice or a subsidy, may be provided by a (local) authority at a later date. Keep an eye on the news.

Your role in the chain

In an emergency, your first priority is your business and your staff. Is the situation under control? Then also assess the impact of the disruption on customers, suppliers, or your immediate surroundings. You can set out in your emergency plan who you need to inform.

In the case of the baker, a large care centre would be directly affected if the bread for the coming days were not delivered. 

If you work with toxic substances and there is a leak, you may need to report the incident immediately. It is also helpful to let those around you know as soon as possible that something is wrong.

Your role in the chain essentially means thinking beyond your own business. Ask yourself: who needs to know about this disruption as soon as possible? 

Offer help

When you are in trouble, you are glad to get help. As an entrepreneur, you too can help fellow business owners or people in your local community. There were plenty of examples of this during the coronavirus crisis. There are various ways to offer help.

For example, Erik Idenburg sometimes lends out staff or equipment when fellow garage owners are in a tight spot. And it works both ways: he can count on the same support. You can also offer entrepreneurs in need a workspace, let them use part of your refrigeration facilities, or let them log on to your internet connection if theirs is not working. 

Offer support in your surroundings 

In the early summer of 2026, dozens of shops, businesses and organisations opened their doors to help Amsterdam residents cool down (in Dutch). Overheated city residents were able to catch their breath there in the air-conditioned air. As an entrepreneur, you can help your local community just as easily: share a parking space, offer temporary shelter when extreme weather causes problems, or temporarily lend out your staff when an emergency calls for extra manpower.

Summary

With a few small and simple steps, you can better prepare for an emergency at no cost. In a crisis, you should first look after your business and staff, then your partners, other business owners and your local community. Here are the steps: 

• An emergency may mean you are unable to work from your premises
• You can prepare now by finding an alternative
• Agree with fellow business owners to help each other in an emergency
• If you sort this out now, you will be able to carry on working more quickly during or after an emergency
• Determine what you need to work from another location
• Find out how government bodies, sector organisations, and networks can help you
• Write down who you need to inform during an emergency
• Think about how you can help others
• Think about what you can do for your local community