Emergency Response Planning
Major world events, natural disasters and widespread calamities have been triggering events resulting in regulation adjustments and the creation of amended legislation. Whether the emergency is natural, technological, or human-caused, organisations aim to maintain business continuity. Emergencies can occur within or outside of the organisation and can result in health and safety hazards for workers.
Receiving an alert before an emergency occurs is unlikely, making an adequate emergency management plan essential to maintaining workforce safety and business operations. ISO 45001* serves to ensure that organisations have appropriate management systems to ensure the continued health and safety of their employees and include and adequate emergency response plan.
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Why do businesses need an emergency management plan?
An emergency management plan covers the three phases that your business may encounter when faced with an emergency: the before, during and the after.
- A continuity plan will ensure that your business can identify specific risks to operation, giving your organisation has an adequate emergency response time.
- An emergency response plan will ensure that all staff are aware of the safety procedures relevant to the emergencies that have been identified by the organisation.
- A recovery plan will help your organisation recover from the aftermath of an incident.
Emergency response planning with ISO 45001
Planning an emergency response within ISO 45001 requires an evaluation and identification of potential hazards to occupational health and safety and any emergencies that may be faced during and beyond working hours. When starting the planning process, it is essential to identify any resources, such as medical supplies, that grant the organisation the ability to implement proactive controls.
An emergency response plan must be created in compliance with regulations and organisational policies to respond to the hazards and emergencies appropriately. An organisation must communicate this plan to employees and stakeholders and ensure that all parties receive adequate emergency procedure training.
When an organisation evaluates its emergency preparedness, it is critical to continuously re-evaluate potential threats and response procedures, reinforced by regular emergency drills. An effective response plan promotes a culture of health and safety in the workplace.
