In the July/August 2015 issue of ISOfocus, we look at some of the deadly hazards we’ve been exposed to, and how standards can help us to prepare for, and react in, many of life’s most unpredictable scenarios.
In his opening comment, Thomas Idermark, CEO of the Swedish Standards Institute (SIS), stresses how identifying, evaluating and managing the different risks in an organization or society are so important – and standards play a crucial role in this process. “At SIS, we see great advantage in international cooperation, especially in areas that affect security and risk management in various ways – a concern that has taken on global proportions in today’s world. IT security is one of these areas, and one in which Sweden is working very intensively.”
From hampering economic growth to deepening poverty levels, disasters can be utterly devastating for people’s lives and the environments in which they live. But negative impacts are not inevitable. Reducing the vulnerability and adaptability of these affected communities is therefore becoming a matter of urgency – having a plan and knowing the steps to take if disaster strikes is by far the best defence.
So exactly how much can ISO standards help? Quite a lot, actually. Standards are playing a major role in building a comprehensive strategy against disasters.
In this ISOfocus issue, we look at how ISO standards can significantly assist the effective management of disaster-related risk by providing a common language and process among the various levels of government. Standards not only offer guidance for understanding risk associated with hazards, but also finding and implementing the best mix of responses, both before and after events occur.
Where can you find the essentials to prevent and mitigate the effects of disasters? We hope this edition of ISOfocus gives you the information, insight, and some new ideas of your own. Being aware is half the battle; it also enables us to be better prepared when disasters do strike.
