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Source: http://www.cbc.ca/canada/story/2008/10/08/csa-standard.html
Emergency management standard released
CSA wants businesses to be prepared for large-scale disasters
Last Updated: Wednesday, October 8, 2008 | 12:09 PM ET
CBC News
The Canadian Standards Association has released a new voluntary standard to encourage businesses to create emergency measures strategies.
The association released the results of a survey conducted by Leger Marketing before announcing the new standard at a press conference in Toronto on Wednesday.
The survey found 18 per cent of the 1,088 working employed adult Canadians did not know if their workplace had an emergency preparedness plan. But seven in 10 respondents said a disaster would affect their ability to do their job.
The new voluntary standard, CSA Z1600: Emergency Management and Business Continuity Programs, outlines the requirements for private and public organizations to have an emergency management program that looks at hazards and business continuity.
"A natural or human-induced disaster can happen anywhere at any time," said Suzanne Kiraly, the CSA's president of standards.
The new standard is directed at emergency situations that include natural disasters, human-induced disasters, problems with critical infrastructure ?such as roads and water systems ? and widespread technology meltdown.
Its guidelines would be useful in large-scale situations such as the SARS outbreak, the 2003 blackout and the 1998 ice storm, or in a potential influenza pandemic, officials said.
"A company without an emergency management and business continuity program is like a homeowner without insurance," Kiraly said.
The standard is based on similar program by the U.S. National Fire Protection Association, and was established after consultations with stakeholders that included Public Safety Canada.
CSA officials said it is the first Canadian standard that includes both emergency and business-continuity planning.
The guidelines it provides to evaluate and manage risk revolve around prevention, mitigation, preparedness, response and recovery.
Emergency management standard released
CSA wants businesses to be prepared for large-scale disasters
Last Updated: Wednesday, October 8, 2008 | 12:09 PM ET
CBC News
The Canadian Standards Association has released a new voluntary standard to encourage businesses to create emergency measures strategies.
The association released the results of a survey conducted by Leger Marketing before announcing the new standard at a press conference in Toronto on Wednesday.
The survey found 18 per cent of the 1,088 working employed adult Canadians did not know if their workplace had an emergency preparedness plan. But seven in 10 respondents said a disaster would affect their ability to do their job.
The new voluntary standard, CSA Z1600: Emergency Management and Business Continuity Programs, outlines the requirements for private and public organizations to have an emergency management program that looks at hazards and business continuity.
"A natural or human-induced disaster can happen anywhere at any time," said Suzanne Kiraly, the CSA's president of standards.
The new standard is directed at emergency situations that include natural disasters, human-induced disasters, problems with critical infrastructure ?such as roads and water systems ? and widespread technology meltdown.
Its guidelines would be useful in large-scale situations such as the SARS outbreak, the 2003 blackout and the 1998 ice storm, or in a potential influenza pandemic, officials said.
"A company without an emergency management and business continuity program is like a homeowner without insurance," Kiraly said.
The standard is based on similar program by the U.S. National Fire Protection Association, and was established after consultations with stakeholders that included Public Safety Canada.
CSA officials said it is the first Canadian standard that includes both emergency and business-continuity planning.
The guidelines it provides to evaluate and manage risk revolve around prevention, mitigation, preparedness, response and recovery.