“Public warning” workshop in Tokyo

"Public warning” is the subject of a workshop being organized by ISO's technical committee ISO/TC 223, Societal security, working group WG 3, Command and control, coordination and cooperation, 8-9 September 2009 in Tokyo, Japan.

Public warning expressions such as sirens, alarms, signs, warning texts and colours alert and notify those people at risk to take appropriate protective actions. The aim of the workshop is to survey and summarize their use around the world and to clarify basic principles for effective public warning.

Researchers and practitioners with expertise in “public warning” and familiarity with sirens, alarms, signs and warning texts, as well as other interested parties, are invited.

The expected outcomes of the workshop include:

• A proposal for a new International Standard on “public warning”
• A collection of concrete expressions of “public warning” such as siren, alarms, signs, warning texts, and warning colours used around the world
• A summary of research achievements on “public warning”
• A Website devoted to disseminating information including the contents above.

To register, please contact Mr. Susumu Akutsu (security-jimu@jsa.or.jp) indicating your name, organization, postal address, e-mail and telephone. For those interested in making a presentation, please include the theme and outline of your presentation. Detailed information for the workshop will follow registration.

The workshop, which will be held at the National Centre of Sciences in Tokyo, Japan, is being hosted by the Japanese Industrial Standards Committee (JISC).