Title: Workplace resources for crisis management: implications for public-private sector planning, policy and response to disasters

Authors: Nancy T. Vineburgh, David M. Benedek, Carol S. Fullerton, Robert K. Gifford, Robert J. Ursano

Addresses: Department of Psychiatry, Center for the Study of Traumatic Stress, Uniformed Services University School of Medicine, Bethesda, MD 20814, USA. ' Department of Psychiatry, Center for the Study of Traumatic Stress, Uniformed Services University School of Medicine, Bethesda, MD 20814, USA. ' Department of Psychiatry, Center for the Study of Traumatic Stress, Uniformed Services University School of Medicine, Bethesda, MD 20814, USA. ' Department of Psychiatry, Center for the Study of Traumatic Stress, Uniformed Services University School of Medicine, Bethesda, MD 20814, USA. ' Department of Psychiatry, Center for the Study of Traumatic Stress, Uniformed Services University School of Medicine, Bethesda, MD 20814, USA

Abstract: The interface and cooperation of the public and private sector is essential in disaster planning and response at the federal, state and local level. The resources of private industry and the integration of resources from multiple corporations have been proven necessary for effective community and regional responses to large-scale disasters (natural disasters, terrorism, bioterrorism and the threat of a pandemic). Large corporations often possess sophisticated crisis management capabilities that may exceed the disaster response capacities of the communities in which they are located. Important crisis management resources of large employers that have implications for community planning and response to disasters include the corporation|s security and threat assessment, communications, human resources and Employee Assistance Programmes (EAP). Workplace preparedness influences family and community preparedness and impacts population health, safety and resilience. Workplace crisis resources, often forgotten and untapped by public sector planners, need to be considered in the continued development and implementation of disaster planning and response policies.

Keywords: workplace preparedness; disaster planning; public-private sector collaboration; security; EAP; employee assistance programmes; human resources; risk communication; emergency management; crisis management; public policy; public health; safety; resilience; disaster response.

DOI: 10.1504/IJPP.2008.020989

International Journal of Public Policy, 2008 Vol.3 No.5/6, pp.378 - 388

Published online: 30 Oct 2008 *

Full-text access for editors Full-text access for subscribers Purchase this article Comment on this article