CSA Unveils Emergency Management, Business Continuity Standard - CSA Z1600
October 21, 2008 // Published as a news service by IHS
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The Canadian Standards Association (CSA) issued an emergency management and business continuity programs standard, CSA Z1600, which is designed for private and public organizations to use if disaster strikes.
CSA Z1600 outlines the requirements for an emergency management program that is designed to incorporate a risk-based, all hazards methodology, integrating emergency management and business continuity programs, said the CSA.
The standard is also designed to serve as a benchmark, allowing organizations to evaluate or initiate an emergency management and business continuity program that will work for them, said the CSA.
This standard is based on the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 1600 Disaster/Emergency Management and Business Continuity Programs standard.
"A company without an emergency management and business continuity program is like a homeowner without insurance," said Suzanne Kiraly, president, standards, Canadian Standards Association.
"A natural or human-induced disaster can happen anywhere at anytime and CSA Z1600 can improve the likelihood of organizations keeping their employees safe and their business running if disaster strikes."
Traditional emergency programs focused on preparedness and response. CSA Z1600 is a Canadian standard that includes both emergency and business continuity planning giving Canadian organizations a framework to manage risks and hazards more proactively, said the CSA.
Many public and private stakeholders expressed an interest in ensuring that emergency management, security systems and standards evolve to be North American in scope and application, said the CSA.
These demands lead to the adaptation of NFPA 1600, which is the foundation for CSA Z1600.
A CSA - Leger Marketing survey revealed that working Canadians do not have much confidence in or knowledge of their employer's level of emergency preparedness. The study indicated:
- Seven in 10 working Canadians say a disaster would affect their ability to do their job.
- Professional Canadians are the most likely to say that the ability to do their job would be affected if a disaster were to occur in their community (75%), followed by those employed in sales and service (70%).
- One in six working Canadians do not know if their workplace has an emergency preparedness plan in place (18%).
To better assist stakeholders in understanding and applying the CSA Z1600 standard, CSA's Learning Centre will offer seminars that will cover the elements required for a program as outlined in the Emergency Management and Business Continuity Programs standard.
Also included are case studies and exercises to maximize understanding and facilitate application of the standard, said the CSA.
Source: National Fire Protection Association (NFPA).