Contact Zephyr for more information on developing and planning your own BPP.
Assessing the Threat I Contingency Planning I Planning Requirements
Assessing the Threat There are so many different threats to business that it seems like one couldn't possibly prepare for all of them and remain in business. However, preparing for threats that are likely to affect a business or those that could have catastrophic results require attention.
Determining how to allocate emergency preparation resources should be based on a business' level of risk. Risk should be expressed in simple terms: extreme, high, moderate, or low. Zephyr uses this approach to help our clients prioritize which threats need immediate attention.
To help prioritize preparedness efforts assess the threat, we implement the following five-step process:
- 1) Identify possible hazards
- 2) Determine the likelihood of occurrence
- 3) Assess the potential consequences if it occurs
- 4) Examine and test existing control measures
- 5) Characterize the level of risk based on steps 2-4
Contingency Planning Many businesses develop contingency plans to satisfy planning requirements of various environmental, safety, or health rules. Compliance with regulatory requirements is important, but unfortunately compliance does not necessarily yield functional plans. Our philosophy has always been to produce documents that are user-friendly and operationally effective. We also take an "all hazards" approach to create plans that go beyond compliance and address the risks that are present, not just the risks an agency identifies. To that end, our plans utilize flowchart, checklists, and decision trees rather than page after page of text. We use the National Response Team's Integrated Contingency Plan (ICP) format for many facilities. For More information on the ICP format follow the links page to the ICP guidance document.
Planning Requirements Here are some of the Federal planning requirements:
Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)
Emergency Action Plan Regulation, 29 CFR 1910.38(a)
Process Safety Standard, 29 CFR 1910.119
Hazardous Waste Operations and Emergency Response Regulation, 29 CFR 1910.120
Employee Alarm Systems, 29 CFR 1910.165
Laboratory Standard, 29 CFR 1910.1450
Environmental Protection Agency
Oil Pollution Prevention Regulation (SPCC and Facility Response Plan Requirements), 40 CFR part 112.7(d) and 112.20-.21
Risk Management Programs Regulation, 40 CFR part 68
Resource Conservation and Recovery Act Contingency Planning Requirements, 40 CFR part 264, Subpart D, 40 CFR part 265, Subpart D, and 40 CFR 279.52
United States Coast Guard
Facility Response Plan Regulation, 33 CFR part 154, Subpart F;
Research and Special Programs Administration (U.S. Department of Transportation)
Pipeline Response Plan Regulation, 49 CFR part 194;
Mineral Management Service
Facility Response Plan Regulation, 30 CFR part 254