Emergency Prevention and Response

Current events within the United States and the world constantly remind us of the dangerous world in which we live and work. Occupational hazards, natural disasters, acts of terrorism and criminal acts by fellow employees, students, customers and visitors are common in today’s world.  Even an unaddressed perception of an unsafe environment can cause almost as much interruption as a real event. 

The personal safety, health and well being of people are of top priority. There is no such thing as qualifying or quantifying an emergency if the safety of people is involved.  Everything must be done to prevent personal injury and preserve health and life for everyone impacted by the emergency.  It goes without saying that a threat to the safety of one person is also a threat to the health and survival of the organization.

The Slater Group methodology focuses on a holistic approach to providing safety, security and emergency planning. People become more aware and safe when they have implemented safety planning at work, home and school.  We assist organizations by proactively addressing the safety planning needs of the organization, its employees and customers. 

Safety is a major concern and responsibility of everyone. Taking steps to prepare for a disaster reassures everyone that what can be done is being done.  Pre-event planning can limit the impact an emergency can have on the organization and position it for a fast recovery.  It can also help place the organization and its leaders in a defendable position when blame and liability is being placed.

Prevention and preparation cannot be over stressed. When an emergency occurs you can proactively manage the event based on a well thought out plan or be reactive and struggle to obtain and maintain control of the crisis.  Your decisions and actions should be based on procedures that are comprehensive and practiced by everyone.

Emergencies are either anticipated or unanticipated. Anticipated crisis, like a hurricane, can be tracked and adequate warnings given to implement the emergency response plan. Unanticipated emergencies happen with little or no warning and without any time to prepare. What have you done to prepare for anticipated crisis?  Will you be able to implement your proactive emergency response plan or react to the unfolding events after they happen?

Characteristics of an emergency include:

  • Chaos
  • Multiple crisis happening at the same time
  • Multiple decision points
  • Limited response time
  • Limited Information
  • Limited Resources
  • Escalation of the emergency in intensity over time
  • Subject to close media scrutiny
  • Subject to close government scrutiny
  • Interrupts normal business operations
  • Impacts the bottom line
  • Impacts the public image
  • Impacts the public and stakeholders perception
  • Impacts the moral of employees

Not all emergencies are the same type or level of intensity.  The response to an emergency should be measured to reflect the type and severity of the emergency.  The Slater Group utilizes the following scale to assign severity to an event:

Situation: Day to day events (normal business with focused attention on situation)
Crisis: Potential for sever business interruption and treat to safety of people
Emergency: Existing threat to the safety and health of the organization and to people
Disaster: A turning point event impacting the survival of the organization and people
Catastrophic Event: A turning point event eliminating the organization as it had been known prior to the event

Emergencies must be identified, managed, and mitigated. One of the first steps is to triage the emergency and determine exactly what the true emergency is. Since chaos reins until the emergency is brought under control, it is imperative that an emergency management team be identified, trained and authorized to take action instantly.  The Slater Group recommends the following factors in triaging an emergency:

  • Determine the potential impact
    on personal safety and health
  • Determine the potential impact on the organization
  • Determine the probability of the emergency taking place
  • Determine the potential hard
    and soft cost of the emergency
  • Determine the organizations ability
    to influence the outcome

The life of an emergency has four distinct phases. The Slater Group assist organizations in preparing for and managing each of the following phases:

Phase I:        Anticipation and Preparation
Phase II:       Complete Engagement
Phase III:     Impact Mediation
Phase IV:      Resolution and Restoration

There should be no question in anyone’s mind as to who is responsible for executing the organization’s emergency response plan. The emergency response team should have sufficient personnel depth in case the first two or three levels are not available.  The emergency response plan should have redundant and alternative systems and processes to replace those that are eliminated as part of the initial emergency event or that fail during Phase II. At a minimum each organization should be prepared prior to the emergency to accomplish the following steps during Phase II:

  • Identify all current and potential events
  • Triage current, potential, evolving
    and subsequent events
  • Isolate the real emergency
  • Control the emergency
  • Manage the emergency and subsequent events
  • Resolve the emergency and subsequent events           
  • Document Lessons Learned

The Slater Group understands that safety must become a way of life and not something practiced only by those with dangerous occupations. People who practice safety at home, work and play are people who will be better employees and more likely to function when an emergency does occur.  We feel that safety is an individual responsibility; however, there are those that need training, assistance and encouragement to make a life of practicing safety and to prepare for emergencies.

The Slater Group will be available to assist you, your company, your family or your organization with developing your emergency prevention and response.  Some of the areas that we can assist are listed below:

  • Work Safety Plans
  • Home Safety Plans
  • School Safety Plans
  • Recreational, Social and Religious
    Organizations Safety Plans
  • Safety Audits
  • Safety Training
  • Safety and Emergency Coordination Plans
  • Emergency Preparedness Assessments
  • Security Audits
  • Security Planning
  • Security Policies and Procedures
  • Event Security Planning
  • Disaster Mediation Planning
  • Emergency Response Planning
  • Terrorist Event Mediation Planning
  • Information Technology Security
    • Networking
    • System and Hardware
    • Telecommunications
    • Video and Media Centers
    • Database Protection
    • Computer Room Design
  • Data Center Design & Security