Emergency Preparedness the Focus of ANSI Homeland Security Standards Panel
October 27, 2006 // Published as a news service by IHS
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As part of the discussion on effective emergency preparedness, consideration must be given to "capability, capacity, proficiency and deployment" as standards are developed, according to Joseph W. Pfeifer, chief of counterterrorism and emergency preparedness for the New York City Fire Department (FDNY).
Pfeifer spoke at the American National Standards Institute Homeland Security Standards Panel (ANSI-HSSP) meeting in September.
"The 9/11 Commission report identified a lack of connecting the dots," Pfeifer said.
"We in emergency preparedness continue to strive to connect these dots, both locally and nationally, and standards are a key factor in helping to make sure that we are successful in these efforts."
Pfeifer said if measurable standards and incentives for emergency preparedness can be developed, the public and private sectors will work hard to achieve them.
As part of the HSSP meeting, Dr. Bert Coursey, standards executive with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Science and Technology Directorate, provided an update on the DHS standards technical program and its efforts in the areas of emergency preparedness and response.
A panel session on assessment, accreditation and certification in private sector preparedness and business continuity also provided insight into how several major corporations address emergency preparedness and how standards, especially NFPA 1600, play an important role in their efforts.
Additional panel sessions examined credentialing for emergency responders and on-scene personnel, public sector preparedness and the work of standards developers, such as ASTM International, the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) and the International Code Council (ICC), in developing standards solutions for emergency preparedness.
Source: American National Standards Institute (ANSI).