By Jewelers Mutual Group
There are many reasons the power could go out at your jewelry business that don’t involve crime. High winds from a storm, a traffic accident, a planned outage, or simply the handy work of a critter chewing on power lines can all cause power outages and have the potential to disrupt your business.
While power outages are a common occurrence, they are, for the most part, unexpected and can be very costly—especially if you don’t have business insurance.
Here are a few steps you can take to protect your jewelry business before a power outage occurs.
- Create a business continuity plan and include power outages as a potential disruption. Share the plan with your employees and update it annually.
- Invest in backup power like a generator or battery. This is a worthwhile expense to keep your jewelry business up and running during an outage.
- Prepare an emergency kit that includes flashlights, batteries, first aid supplies, and other necessities. Keep it in a central location and make employees aware of its location.
- Inspect your electrical box on a regular basis and place a secure lock on the outside. If you suspect any tampering, report it to police and the Jewelers Security Alliance (JSA), even if the power is not cut off and no burglary occurred. Keep in mind that fire regulations vary in different jurisdictions regarding placement of locks. If you need more guidance, contact your local fire department.
- Back up and encrypt your data to an external hard drive or the cloud. Keep copies of your records at an off-site location.
- Confirm that your burglar alarm system has operational line security to protect your business if the power goes out or is cut intentionally.
- Update your call list so the alarm system notification can be responded to promptly by employees who will be available, including during vacations, weekends, and holiday nights.
- Protect your jewelry business with a business insurance policy.
Check out the Jewelers Mutual Clarity blog to learn what you should do during and after the power goes out to make sure your business is protected.
