Incident management – be wise before the event

Oct 23 2007 by Evening Gazette

INCIDENT management is not something you can learn from a textbook. The theory will undoubtedly be there, but what will be missing is the knowledge that comes only from years of front-line, hands-on experience.

Learning on the job is not a viable approach either; it is a recipe for escalating an incident to a crisis, or allowing it to spiral out of control into a business-threatening disaster. As every emergency service officer will tell you, the outcome of any incident is determined by what you do in the first few minutes.

The only sure way of ensuring your company’s survival is to get expert help and guidance before the event. This will ensure that your particular risks are assessed and acted upon; that practical tried-and-tested control measures are in place, that the essential facilities can be immediately brought to bear, and – most importantly – that everyone concerned is fully trained and confident in their emergency response roles and responsibilities.

This confidence will be undoubtedly boosted by regular on-site full-scale exercising and testing of every part of the emergency arrangements.

That is why SembCorp Protection focuses so heavily on providing the industry’s best training and consultancy in every aspect of incident preparedness, from fire protection and firefighting, site security and spillage control, to first aid and most importantly effective communications.

With responsibility for around-the-clock protection and security for over £14 billion worth of high-hazard industrial assets on some of the world’s most challenging industrial sites, it has built an enviable reputation by developing close working relationships with emergency services and local authorities.

Today, SembCorp Protection’s clients are spread throughout the petrochemical, nuclear, pharmaceutical and heavy manufacturing industries.

SembCorp Protection uses the latest world-class equipment and constantly re-evaluates procedures and regimes.

It can also deploy the latest fire protection and engineering equipment to protect lives and assets as well as ensuring business continuity.

Its on-site and off-site Emergency Control Centres are recognised globally as centres of excellence, and SembCorp’s staff are trained and accredited to the highest international standards.

It fact, it has recently published a new illustrated leaflet that will undoubtedly interest anyone who is responsible for securing their businesses’ survival in an emergency.

Called Focus on Prevention, it clearly sets out the effective steps to successful incident management, and addresses the critical issues and key tasks under three separate headings: operational preparedness; tactical control; and strategic mitigation.

It includes a very effective action checklist and helps those responsible for any aspect of business continuity management or crisis management to identify their vulnerable areas, and poses a number of thought-provoking questions that should stimulate further action towards achieving a robust, comprehensive and tested response to any emergency.

Copies are also available by telephone on 01642 212904, by fax on 01642 212726, or via email at protection@sembutiilities.co.uk.