| A crisis can take on many forms such as industrial | | | | data, make decisions that protect life and property, |
| accidents where a number of people are affected, | | | | maintain continuity of the company within the scope |
| plant damaged and construction sites affected. | | | | of applicable directives and communicate the |
| Natural risks such as fires, earthquakes, etc. can also | | | | decisions to all concerned. |
| result in a crisis. Additionally a crisis can be as a result | | | | The crisis command and control centreThe crisis |
| of man made risks such as air or water pollution, | | | | command and control centre should be equipped with |
| toxic waste spills, collapses, etc. The other risk that | | | | the following items: |
| can and normally does result in a crisis is the threats | | | | - The physical structure should be sound and comply |
| associated with terrorist. | | | | with good building standards and should not be |
| Protecting the company's reputation, commercial | | | | constructed in a place where it has an outside wall. |
| viability, employees and other key business assets | | | | - The air conditioning, fire detection and protection |
| and stakeholders in the face of extreme, complex, | | | | systems as well as the computer installations |
| unpredictable, and constantly changing risks is an | | | | contained in the crisis command and control centre |
| ongoing challenge that can only be effectively done if | | | | should comply with standards that require them to |
| one is appropriately prepared. | | | | be independent of other systems to prevent them |
| The creation of an emergency response | | | | from being affected by an on site crisis. |
| management plan to deal with these treats involves | | | | - The crisis command and control centre must be for |
| developing a three phase strategy that will indicate | | | | the exclusive use during a crisis and should not be |
| how a company and its affiliates should respond to a | | | | used for any other general purpose in the absence of |
| crisis. The preparation should also include the creation | | | | a crisis. |
| of appropriate infrastructure for the purpose. | | | | - A standby power generator that will automatically |
| The development and construction of an emergency | | | | kick in and should have a capacity and reliability that |
| response management plan and infrastructure will | | | | will ensure sufficient power to all communication, data |
| give a company a competitive advantage by | | | | and lighting requirements even in cases where there |
| protecting their reputation, key business assets, | | | | is a total power failure for a long duration of time. |
| employees and other stakeholders. This however is | | | | - Secure access control that will allow only authorized |
| an ongoing challenge that can only be sufficiently | | | | staff to enter should be ensured. |
| dealt with if the company is appropriately prepared. | | | | - Visual display units that are connected to a |
| To wait until a crisis occurs could be disastrous to the | | | | communication system that will allow the company |
| continued existence of the company and is much | | | | executive team to be able to visually follow the |
| more expensive than investing in developing and | | | | development of the crisis from the crisis control |
| constructing a complete solution that includes plans | | | | room. |
| and infrastructure to deal with it when it happens. | | | | - Suitable, reliable and secure communications |
| A complete solution includes components that | | | | systems that can be used to communicate with the |
| addresses strategic as well as tactical requirement. | | | | crisis site as well as government agencies and other |
| The ideal crisis management system should cover the | | | | interested and affected parties should be in place. |
| three main phases of a crisis situation. These are: | | | | - A speaker system attached to communication |
| - crisis prevention | | | | devises that will allow a team approach in |
| - crisis management | | | | communication is a necessity. |
| - crisis recovery The preparation and planning needs | | | | - An independent secure fax machine is a must. |
| to be comprehensive, consistent and integrated in | | | | - A recording system that records all voice |
| order to ensure an efficient plan that will be able to | | | | communication into and out of the crisis command |
| be invoked successfully when the crisis hits. | | | | and control centre should be installed and records |
| The company's executive team will be responsible for | | | | should be kept for a period of at least 12 months |
| all aspects of a response to a crisis. This will include | | | | after any activity in the centre. |
| developing incident objectives, providing suitable and | | | | - A suitable number of desks, tables and lockable |
| sufficient plans and infrastructure and managing all | | | | cupboards should permanently furnish the crisis |
| incident operations to bring the crisis under control | | | | command and control centre. |
| and implement the strategies to return to normality. | | | | - Copies of all sites based emergency response plans |
| The crisis management plan and infrastructure needs | | | | of the company and its affiliate must be available in |
| to be able to be sufficient to deal with all three | | | | the centre. These plans should include sections on |
| phases of the crisis. This includes the following: | | | | emergency contact details, duty rosters and |
| Before the crisis (crisis prevention) | | | | emergency team member information. |
| The systems and infrastructure should be able to | | | | - A planning board where staff allocated specific |
| collect and process data on a ongoing basis allowing | | | | tasks in relation to the emergency organization should |
| for the monitoring of potential disasters in order to | | | | be available and display updated information. |
| warn management when predefined criteria or | | | | - A cupboard that contains the appropriate |
| warning levels are reached that could indicate a crisis | | | | identification insignia to clearly identify the roles of all |
| is imminent. Critical data should be analyzed constantly | | | | the staff present in the control room should be |
| and any unusual trend should be detected and when | | | | included in the centre. |
| analysis indicates that a crisis is anticipated | | | | - A dedicated copier for the sole use during a crisis is |
| management should be alerted. This should also be | | | | necessary. |
| the point when the general alert level is adjusted and | | | | - A crisis log book where a scribe can record the |
| published in the company. The information should | | | | activities taking place during the crisis. |
| include security, safety and health items as well as | | | | After the crisis (crisis recovery) |
| the interaction of these issues. The focus areas | | | | The crisis control plan should include a requirement to |
| should include at least people, buildings, plant, systems | | | | develop and implement a crisis recovery strategy |
| and processes. | | | | once the crisis has been brought under practical |
| During the crisis (crisis management)The key to | | | | control. |
| managing a crisis once it hit a company is to have a | | | | ConclusionAny amount of planning cannot prevent all |
| dedicated crisis command and control center. | | | | emergencies. It is however a fact that with the |
| The crisis command and control centre serves as a | | | | appropriate plan and infrastructure in place the impact |
| secure location from where the company's | | | | and consequences of emergencies can be drastically |
| executives who is responsible for the strategic | | | | reduces. It should be noted that a crisis command |
| resolution of the crisis can obtain a big picture to | | | | and control centre that is not supported with a |
| evaluate and provide direction to the crisis site. | | | | suitable and sufficient emergency response plan that |
| The primary functions of the executive team during | | | | is based on a formal threat assessment could provide |
| an emergency are to collect, gather and analyze | | | | a false sense of security. |