Is your business well prepared for any type of crisis?

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Is your business well prepared for any type of crisis?

At any time your business could be faced with a crisis that threatens its continuity and viability.

This crisis could rear its head in any number of different ways and have extremely wide-ranging and far-reaching effects. For example, it may be related to OHS issues, fraud, computer tampering, an attack on your business reputation, copyright infringement, extortion, natural disaster, product recall, sexual harassment, security breach, loss or illness of key staff, terrorist attack supplier crisis or theft, to name just some.

To be well prepared for any type of crisis you should have a crisis management plan in place with the main objective being to ensure its 'business as usual' as soon as possible following a crisis.

Your crisis plan should form an integral part of your organisation's overall risk management plan. It should be documented in a clear and concise manner, communicated often to staff and made readily available to them, tested in emergency run throughs and in staff training, and reviewed and updated regularly to take into account your business' changing circumstances.

What you should consider when developing a crisis plan

Identify

which systems and processes are critical to the business continuing its operations.
strategies to minimise the potential impact on these systems and processes to ensure the continuity of the business.
the point at which recovery is considered successful, and a recovery time objective.
the key personnel, their roles and responsibilities, and their contact details.
the location of where staff should meet following a crisis; how staff are to communicate if phone lines are affected.
your communication and media strategy. Your communication plan should show how to effectively communicate to employees, stakeholders, and the community. Consider appointing a company spokesperson to handle communication and media interest.
alternate suppliers if required.
temporary office or factory space in case you are forced to evacuate the premises.

Develop

a list of contact details for those you are likely to have to notify in an emergency such as the emergency services, insurers, the local council, customers, suppliers, utility companies and neighbouring businesses, and service providers.
a map of your premises' layout to help emergency services, showing fire escapes, sprinklers and other safety equipment.
an employee assistance program

Ensure

you have hard copies of your business continuity plan offsite and in a couple of different locations; and make key personnel aware of this.
you post emergency evacuation routes in several sites in your buildings where they can be readily seen by employees.
you have fire equipment and first aid materials highly visible and readily accessible; and ensure all staff are trained to use the equipment.
that there are employees trained ahead of time to deal with life and death situations, such as giving CPR.

In conclusion

If a crisis of any kind takes hold of your business it can be catastrophic. That is why it so critical to be well-prepared. You are well advised to seek professional advice in developing a thorough crisis plan.

Get professional assistance

Kreston Dormers can work with you to enhance your business' performance and profitability. Our focus is on helping you to create and preserve wealth, and cover the key bases of business success. Contact us to speak with a specialist who will offer practical, results oriented solutions to your individual business problems. We take the time and trouble to understand your business and its potential.

Author/Editor: Charisse Gray
Source: www.nswbc.com.au

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