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NFPA issues Emergency Evacuation Planning Guide for People with Disabilities
The US National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) has published a new Emergency Evacuation Planning Guide for People with Disabilities. The document provides general information to assist in identifying the needs of people with disabilities related to emergency evacuation planning.
According to the US Census Bureau, nearly 49 million Americans had one or more disabilities in 2000. The guide addresses the need for evacuation plans to include everyone, and highlights the needs, criteria and minimum information required to incorporate appropriate planning strategies for people with disabilities into these plans.
"Other than preventing an emergency before it happens, having a plan and practicing it is the best way to prepare ourselves for the unexpected," said James M. Shannon, NFPA's president. "NFPA developed this guide as a resource for creating an all-inclusive evacuation plan that considers everyone's needs for evacuation, including the needs of people with disabilities."
The Emergency Evacuation Planning Guide for People with Disabilities is available for download at no cost.
(http://www.nfpa.org/evacuationguide)
Human Capital Risks the Most Significant Threat Companies Face
International risk managers surveyed by the Economist Intelligence Unit say human capital risks are the most significant threat they face to their global business operations. The findings show that respondents see human capital risks such as skills shortages, succession issues and the loss of key personnel as being more significant than threats from reputational risk, information technology risk, political risk and regulatory risk. This represents a change from a year ago, when reputational risk was perceived in our quarterly risk barometer survey as being the biggest threat that respondents faced.
Despite acknowledging the importance of the skills issue, just 32 percent of survey respondents say they manage human capital risks effectively. The only areas where they feel less confident are risks associated with terrorism and climate change.
These results form part of "Best Practice in Risk Management: A Function Comes of Age," a new Economist Intelligence Unit survey and report sponsored by ACE, IBM and KPMG. In addition to exploring specific categories of risk and the effectiveness with which respondents manage them, the report also examines the way in which companies from a wide range of sectors and regions organize themselves to manage the risk function.
(http://www.eiuresources.com/mediadir/default.asp?PR=2007042501)
The 10 Secrets of Successful Wellness Teams
When it comes to building results-oriented wellness programs, teams are an integral part of the equation. But creating and sustaining a dynamic and effective wellness team is not an easy task. A recent report from Welcoa shares the 10 secrets of successful worksite wellness teams and provides strategies to help you build a best-in-class team.
(http://www.welcoa.org/news.php?entryid=363&PHPSESSID=6aa114f875233380b80d1e7e4ca7ca0d)
Coworker Conflict Drives Up Employee Stress Levels
More than half of the US workforce report having high stress levels, according to ComPsych's recent StressPulse survey. The survey also found that, for the first time, "people issues" have replaced workload as the number one cause of stress.
"New hires have picked up somewhat, which can lead to turf wars led by current employees," said Dr. Richard A. Chaifetz, chairman and CEO of ComPsych. "At the same time, wages have not caught up with inflation. This can cause workers to feel they are competing for fewer resources, resulting in tension and interpersonal conflict in the workplace.
"Organizations can train managers in conflict resolution and team building - and encourage over-stressed workers to use the employee assistance program - to help minimize the issue," he added.
(http://www.compsych.com/jsp/en_US/content/pressRelease/2006/coworkerConflict.jsp)
Managing Risk From Within: Monitoring Employees the Right Way
From Risk Management Magazine
No one thinks twice about having employees punch time clocks to document their work time. Eyebrows are not raised over procedures for checking out and returning expensive equipment when an employee heads out for an assignment offsite. And few question the use of secured entrances to control who comes and goes from a company's facilities.
But what about other forms of workplace surveillance? If a company takes security measures a step further - monitoring employee e-mail and Internet surfing, for instance - red flags may be raised about privacy concerns. Aaron Latto reports.
CDC Issues Interim Guidance for Facemasks During an Influenza Pandemic
The US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and its Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have released interim advice to the public about the use of facemasks and respirators in certain public (non-occupational) settings during an influenza pandemic. There is very little research about the value of masks to protect people in public settings. These interim recommendations are based on the best judgment of public health experts who relied in part on information about the protective value of masks in healthcare facilities.
The CDC’s guidance stresses that during an influenza pandemic, a combination of actions will be needed, including handwashing, minimizing the likelihood of exposure by distancing people who are infected or likely to be infected with influenza away from others and treating them with antiviral medications, having people who are caring for ill family members voluntarily stay home and encouraging people to avoid crowded places and large gatherings. When used in conjunction with such preventive steps, masks and respirators may help prevent some spread of influenza.
(http://www.contingencyplanning.com/news/29.aspx)
Nurses On Guard
From Security Management Magazine
Ann Longmore-Etheridge investigates how one healthcare facility teaches nurses to spot signs of escalating aggression among visitors and defend against abusive behavior.
(http://www.securitymanagement.com/)
Gimme Shelter
From Security Management Magazine
James D. Lee asks: When is sheltering-in-place preferable to evacuation, and how should you go about it? He uses the example of one major company whose employees and families decided to shelter-in-place rather than risk a problematic evacuation. The safer solution was to turn around and head to their corporate campus in Houston to weather the storm. They had that option because only a few months earlier their company had implemented a comprehensive shelter-in-place (SIP) program.
(http://www.securitymanagement.com/)
Back to the Basics
From Disaster Recovery Journal
Author Brandon Bond took a moment at an event to ask how many people had a personal preparedness plan and sufficient supplies for their home. He was a bit surprised when only a quarter of the audience raised their hand.
(http://www.drj.com/articles/win07/)
Creating Effective Training Sessions
From Disaster Recovery Journal
A critical part of business continuity that is often missed is to provide training to your employees on the business continuity process. Candy Wehenkel offers up some steps that are the basics you will need to use to prepare basic continuity training.
(http://www.drj.com/articles/win07/)
The Missing Link in Business Continuity
From Disaster Recovery Journal
Alan Kirschenbaum contends that perhaps there is something fundamental missing in the way business continuity is being marketed and perceived by potential clients. That missing link, he argues, is none other than a lack of focus on a company's employees.
(http://www.drj.com/articles/fall06/)
Planning for Elderly in Natural Disasters
From Continuity Central
The over-representation of elderly loss of life during Hurricanes Katrina and Rita is consistent with loss on a global level. People over age 60 made up 15 percent of the New Orleans population and 75 percent of bodies found after Katrina. Forty percent of all bodies found were over the age 70. Robin Knowles and Betsey Garrison report.
HR as a Business Continuity Resource
From Disaster Recovery Journal
The Human Resources department, sometimes known as personnel, is often overlooked as a business continuity resource. Yet, depending on the organization, it can be a valuable asset to the business continuity planner and to the business continuity plan, says John Glenn.
(http://www.continuitycentral.com/feature0419.htm)
Researchers Use Simulation to Study Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
From Disaster Recovery Journal
Weill Cornell Medical College researchers are using a virtual reality simulation called 'Virtual Iraq' to better understand how symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) develop. Although using military participants, the results will have general applications for preventing and treating PTSD, which can occur after major disasters and even during stressful periods of business-as-usual.
(http://www.continuitycentral.com/news03248.htm)
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