For many organizations, only simulations of real-life emergencies and events can prepare staff for the challenges they may be asked to meet. Considering the effects of mismanaged responses to disasters and other events, no organization facing the possibility of such events should neglect to properly prepare itself. Now the new ISO 22398, “Societal security – Guidelines for exercises,” is available to assist you in developing and executing such training exercises.
Management Standards are guidance documents that usually cover the entire life-cycle of the process they address. In this case, ISO 22398 helps you understand (and so communicate) the need for such exercises, develop an effective project, and implement it successfully. You’ll learn how to develop a performance objective for your exercise. And you’ll learn how to foster achievement and measure the results.
Groups use these training exercises as part of a risk management program. If you’re in a health care situation, academic setting, work for public law enforcement, and many other sectors, there’s going to be a need to test how the organization can respond to specific triggers. Well planned projects can reveal how well the group works both internally and with external parties. It can reveal strengths and weaknesses with existing plans. And it can suggest paths for improvement with the program.
After the usual scope, definition and referenced documents sections, the 42-page ISO 22398 covers both an exercise projects (individual training events) and exercise programs (a coordinated set of projects to support 1 goal). Each of the 2 sections has general information, planning protocols, implementation requirements, and evaluation points for review and improvement.
You’ll get clauses on team management, risk identification and management, environmental considerations and even gender and diversity requirements. Five informative Annexes cover:
- Exercises within a management system description
- Needs analysis
- National strategic exercises
- Exercise enhancement and
- Creating scenarios through experience.
A bibliography with 17 references for further information concludes the document.
If your organization is responsible for public safety or needs company-wide training for crisis or disaster recovery, you’ll want to use this standard. It’s available from Document Center in either paper format or for pdf download. Order on our webstore, www.document-center.com. Or contact us by phone (650-591-7600), fax (650-591-7617) or email (info@document-center.com). We are here to support your organizational requirements with the delivery and monitoring of the compliance information you need.
