Three key questions to “health check” your Emergency Plan (for facilities)
Author: John Salter & Associates Consulting Services
John Salter - specialising in the facilitation of risk-based capability reviews; needs-based training; business continuity planning; crisis management exercises; and organisational debriefing. Recognised for “preventing disasters, or where that is not possible, reducing the potential for harm” Ref: Barrister H Selby, Inquest Handbook, 1998. Distracted by golf, camping, fishing, reading, red wine, movies and theatre.
Plans are nothing …
Emergency Planning for facilities is not straightforward. The “bog standard” linear, risk-based approach is a good start but context often brings complexities which require nuance. Layer over that the social and political dimensions (internal and external) and you start to explore the mire. Difficult questions arise – from the commitment of organisations to adequately resource… Read More
Standards are fine – unless they “bind”
The international standard for risk management, ISO 31000, provides principles and guidelines. When this standard is used as a heuristic device it can aid creative thinking. Heuristic devices can open up problems and opportunities however they are “double-edged swords” – something that can have both favourable or unfavourable consequences. The Standard is not a checklist.… Read More
Difficulties can give rise to opportunity
In this story, the development of the Lateen sail to zig-zag into the wind on narrow rivers. Which was then copied onto larger ocean going ships enabling them to discover the world.
Muscles not exercised weaken.
Information Management and Decision Making Capabilities – like muscles which are not exercised – can easily diminish.
From constraint to opportunity
Pole vaulting over mouse droppings
A tale of fiascos and dilemmas – lessons from Bangladesh garment factories
Where there is inadequate management of risk during the implementation of a project the very outcome being sought is often compromised. That is now the case with the Accord on Fire and Building Safety which was a welcome initiative following the tragic deaths of five years ago. The Government has “found itself” short on factories… Read More
Are Templates Procrustean Beds?
The story of the “generous” Procrustes is an illustrative one. After offering hospitality to those in need, Procrustes either stretched the limbs of the short to fit his bed – or hacked those of the long, again, to fit his bed. Too often we see “guides” and “standards” parading as flexible tools – but with… Read More
Information is not fake news
Information, by inherent definition, “informs” – it reduces uncertainty. Read More
How should I use “gap assessments”?
ISO 31000:2018 PUBLISHED
The official text of the revision of the international ISO 31000 risk management standard has been published. MAIN CHANGES 1. The document is clearer and shorter – reduced from 20 to 16 pages 2. More importance is given in creating value and decision-making 3. The principles are better integrated into the framework and the process… Read More
Good crisis management is based on sound decisions.
Good crisis management is characterised by evidenced based decision making. The underpinnings of the evidence based approach is a systematic vulnerability assessment of your services.
Hazard + Vulnerability = Disaster
Freetown – a site where "informal settlements" creep up the adjacent slopes needed only the hazard of heavy rain to trigger the most recent disaster.
John Salter Consulting Services 