Contents
- Emergency Management Unit
Ministry of Health
Professional Preparedness
Professional preparedness means being aware of the resources that are available for an emergency in the workplace, familiarizing oneself with an organization’s business continuity plan and communications structure, having personal emergency items and contacts on hand, and knowing both individual and organizational roles in responding to an emergency. Training programs are available for professionals in emergency management and Business Continuity through the Justice Institute of BC and the Provincial Emergency Program.
After an emergency has occurred, recovery and restoration should follow in a timely manner. Organizations need to be prepared for a decrease in staff, resources and infrastructure after an emergency. However, with sufficient preparation an organization will be much better equipped to adapt to these shortages.
In order for a professional to be truly prepared for an emergency situation in the workplace they must also be prepared at home. Planning various transportation routes to the workplace is vital in the event that transportation infrastructure is impacted. Ensuring all members of the household are prepared to care for themselves in an emergency is another way to increase the likelihood of being able to make it into the workplace.
Regular training and exercises within an organization is fundamental to ensuring all staff are prepared and informed on what steps to take in the event of an emergency, who is responsible for contacting staff, and how individual roles will be played out. Cross-training is a valuable strategy in preparing an organization for an emergency in the event that key staff is unavailable.
For additional information, visit the Emergency Management Training section and the Links page under Professional Preparedness.
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