Most workplaces treat emergency planning as a compliance task. They run a yearly fire drill, appoint a few fire wardens, and tick the box. But when a real emergency happens, that ticked box is not enough to keep people safe.

Welcome to Under the Rug at Work, where we shine light on the things that are normally swept under the rug. I’m your host, Nicole Turnbull, and today I’m chatting with David Laarhoven, founder of Get Fire Training.

David is a firefighter, emergency trainer and assessor, and a strong advocate for putting people at the centre of emergency planning. He brings decades of frontline experience across emergency services, disaster recovery and trauma support, and he’s on a mission to change how workplaces prepare for the unexpected.

David explains why emergency planning should not be one-size-fits-all. His team works with businesses of all sizes to create Person-Centred Emergency Plans (P-CEP) that account for the diversity and vulnerability of every worker on site. From wheelchair users and older workers to those with trauma histories or communication needs, David believes no one should be left behind when things go wrong.

You’ll also learn what the acronym F.I.R.E. really stands for, why fire is actually one of the least common emergencies in a workplace, and what it means to build a culture of calm, confident and capable ECO leaders.

If you’ve ever thought “we’ll deal with it if it happens,” this conversation will change your mind. The time to prepare is before the alarm sounds.

Don’t forget to subscribe on Spotify, Apple Podcasts and YouTube, and share this episode with someone who's thinking more about how their workplace handles emergencies.

Want to learn more or get in touch with David?

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