At the current scenario (Strategy 1) a three-tier level of response organization should be activated as follows:
• Tactical Response Team (TRT),
• Incident Management Team (IMT) and
• Crisis Management Team (CMT).
If local risks escalate, the CMT is accountable to define those risks and the mitigation strategy and communicate that strategy to the IMT. The IMT will be responsible to implement those components of the strategy that fall within theirs remit with TRT performing any field tactical activities necessary to achieve the new MIT’s response objectives to meet the new mitigation strategy.
Pandemic related action items for a three-tier level of response organization may possibly be:
CMT typical action items are:
A Crisis Management Team has direct responsibility for managing any issues that could have company-wide implications including impact on employees, operability, viability, earning power and protection of company’s reputation.
• Ensure employee tracking is being conducted and obtain regular status updates.
• Define business continuity and operating status strategy.
• Determine what the current and potential legal and financial liabilities will be, and
implement a strategy to minimize the impacts.
• Determine which stakeholders (customers, senior government officials, trade
associations, media leaders, financial leaders, etc.) should be notified/updated about
the business’s response to the pandemic.
• Identify stakeholder concerns over potential impacts to the company that could
affect them and ensure planned or ongoing mitigation measures are effectively
communicated
IMT typical action items are:
• Track status of all employees including on site, remote workers and travelers.
• Implement the CMT defined business continuity and operating strategy components
assignment to IMT.
– Ensure critical processes run properly and safely with minimum staff on site.
– Establish a central resource for extended response operations.
– Provide adequate workplace (facility/office) accommodation consistently with a
pandemic scenario.
– Minimize bureaucracy and maximize safety for supply chain and product delivery.
– Ensure data center resilience.
• Ensure that any directives from CMT are properly cascaded down to the facility staff.
• Address local stakeholder’s concerns, communicate actions and status, and get
feedback.
TRT typical action items are:
• Daily report staff status to IMT Operation Section Chief (OSC) or IC.
• Properly follow all operating and safety facility and work permit procedures.
– Prior making any changes seek IMT OSC approval.
• Maintain and periodically check operability of all process safety devices.
• Spend the necessary time during shift changes to ensure incoming clearly
understands facility operating status and any other risk or safety issues.
• Workplace clean up and disinfection.
– Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces such as
workstations, keyboards, telephones, handrails, and doorknobs.
– Dirty surfaces can be cleaned with soap and water prior to disinfection.
TRACKING EMPLOYEES (A critical whole response organization action item)
The ability to effectively track employees is critical in any type of major disaster. This is an endeavor that is useful beyond the pandemic scenario and deserves consideration for any comprehensive business continuity/crisis management program.
Why it is important:
• Humanitarian: To understand general situation and needs of employees and their
families.
• Business Continuity: healthy and particularly ‘recovered’ employees will be a very
valuable resource in order to ensure they are strategically deployed where needed
the most.
Multiple ways to reach employees:
• Manual call trees (through line supervisors)
• Interactive web site (intranet)
• Telephone hotline (for those with no internet access)
• Centralized email address (alternative emails/personal emails like yahoo, gmail,
Hotmail, etc.)
Author: CCG Team
