Firms to benefit from new crisis management standard

Employment Law & HR update 04/10/2011

A new crisis management standard has been launched to help firms cope with emergencies such as natural disasters or the death of an employee.

The PAS 200 Crisis management: Guidance and good practice standard has been overseen by the British Standards Institution (BSI) and The Cabinet Office.

It aims to offer help and advice to businesses on how to deal with civil unrest, corporate espionage or other unexpected emergencies.

Developed with the assistance of some of the country's most prominent bodies, such as the Bank of England and the UK Emergency Planning Group, the standard will advise firms on the detection, preparation and response to an emergency.

It is thought that the standard could have a positive impact for companies who are uncertain about how to cope with the challenges the 2012 Olympic Games will likely bring.

Head of market development at BSI, Anne Hayes, said, “The key to surviving and thriving in a crisis is to develop plans, protocols and procedures in preparation for the unexpected.”

Dr Robert MacFarlane, assistant director, research and doctrine at the Cabinet Office, agreed, saying, “Crises are, by their very nature, unexpected and extremely challenging therefore the Cabinet Office today strongly encourages every organisation to think about implementing some simple, practical steps to improve their resilience.”

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