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Put Humanity Back Into Business A business is like a machine. It is without emotion, task-oriented and incapable of feeling pain. From the time it is built, it is concerned only with efficiently performing its function. If you think this is a disturbing analogy, you are right! What happens when a machine breaks down? Often times, you can simply replace its parts and it will be as good as new. But it is far more difficult to replace people working in a business. When disaster strikes, chances are your employees will not be able to function again so soon. Replacing them is not an option. People, not parts, are the backbone of any business. It is imperative that your company has a disaster recovery plan that provides for their needs. Accidents involving only a few people should not be too difficult for most businesses to handle. Matters become much more problematic, however, when there are multiple injuries and deaths with which to deal. Take, for example, the Phillips Chemical explosion that occurred nearly ten years ago at a complex in Pasadena, Texas. There were 23 deaths and 314 injuries. The psychological impact on facility management and supervisory personnel can be enormous, as they must deal with the victims and their families. Any company that does not have an organized disaster recovery plan will simply not be prepared to deal with a disaster of this magnitude. GETTING ORGANIZED Analyze Your Current State Make Policy a Priority Organize the Response Once the structure has been organized, attention should be given to assigning each group its own set of detailed response procedures. Issues that should be addressed include incident notification, incident assessment and classification, team activation and personnel mobilization, response command and control, and coordination with other groups. Train the Team WHO WILL BENEFIT? A corporate plan should also provide for the needs of the victim’s family. Types of assistance should include transportation to the hospital or funeral home, hotel accommodations, childcare, and financial. Some companies will even go so far as to help arrange and pay for funeral services. After the burial, humanitarian assistance should ensure the long-term stability of the surviving family members. Insurance and other benefits to which they are entitled should be taken care of quickly. All victims should be provided psychological counseling following a disaster. Survivors are often particularly traumatized after witnessing the death and destruction caused by the incident. Post trauma debriefings allow victims to discuss the incident and learn to cope with it. Only specialized mental health professionals should perform such debriefings. In many cases, the most seriously affected should be required to attend these meetings. The lack of such counseling has proven to be devastating in the past. Shortly after an explosion killed two employees at Inland Steel Industries in East Chicago, Indiana, their 18-year old supervisor took his own life near the site. He left a letter describing his remorse over the deaths of his co-workers. Had counseling been available, it is possible that his life could have been saved. The availability of a counseling program after a disaster is a necessity. The Corporation Will Benefit • Promotes good will among individual victims and the community • Reduces potential problems for victims and potential litigation for the company • Indicates a concern for potential victims’ welfare • Helps prevent an unfavorable impression of the corporation • Reduces the likelihood that key components will be overlooked • Ensures consistency in the provision of assistance to victims The fact is that a humanitarian assistance program makes sense from every angle. Don’t wait until disaster tears your business apart. A machine may be disposable, but people are not. A comprehensive recovery plan is a major step toward getting your business back on track after a disaster. About the Author |