Risk Assessment in Emergency Planning and Business Continuity
Manchester Community Risks - Issues for the Business and Voluntary Sector
The Council's Civil Contingencies Unit has identified the following issues as being particularly relevant to Manchester:
- Local accidents on motorways and trunk roads
- Airport disruptions
- Manchester City Centre
- Pandemic Influenza (flu)
- Severe weather
- Chemical sites
More detailed information about these Manchester issues can be found under the headings below.
Local Accidents on Motorways and Trunk Roads
How would your organisation cope if an accident caused the closure of roads near to where you are based?
Road closure can lead to staff being unable to get into, or leave work, as well as preventing your suppliers reaching you. Disruption to transport can particularly affect your business. A security alert at a major rail station may lead to your staff not being able to use public transport to reach work.
Airport Disruptions
If your organisation is located near the airport, you may consider how it will cope if staff cannot reach work because roads nearby are closed as a result of a sudden security alert.
If your organisation is located near the airport, how would your organisation cope in the event of a sudden security alert?
Manchester City Centre
The centre of Manchester is a major business and tourist location. Many high profile events are held in the city which can lead to security cordons or road closures, for example the Labour Party Conference. Similarly, terrorist threat or large scale public protests are more likely to be focused on the city centre.
How prepared is your organisation to deal with the potential disruption?
Pandemic Influenza (flu)
In the event of a flu pandemic, large numbers of staff may be unable to come to work, either because they are ill or they are caring for their families that are ill. Planning for eventual staff absences would be part of your organisation's business continuity planning.
How prepared is your organisation to deal with high volumes of staff absence?
For frequently updated information on the risks of a flu pandemic see the Department of Health and UK Resilience websites.
You may find the following links to external sites helpful:
- 'Business Checklist for Pandemic Flu Planning' from the Cabinet Office. The report (PDF129KB) can be downloaded from UK Resilience and the Preparing for Emergencies websites.
- Online QA - how to prepare for bird 'flu, including business continuity planning, see Preparing for Emergencies (HM Government website).
- Interim advice on the risks of an influenza pandemic to businesses: see UK Dept of Health's Influenza Contingency Plan, October 2005, Annex J, which can be found on the Department of Health website, pandemic flu section.
- Avian flu advice: Health and Safety Executive Guidance to employers.
Other external sites relating to Pandemic Flu:
- Department of Health
- DEFRA (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs) avian influenza page
- Health and Safety Executive
- London Prepared (flu page)
- World Health Organisation: Avian influenza
Severe Weather
Severe weather could leave some parts of the city at risk of flooding.
If you are based in an area that is at risk of flooding, are you prepared?
For example, you can ensure that any valuable records or equipment you have is stored somewhere it would not be damaged if your building is flooded.
Visit our web pages for links to advice on heatwaves and flooding (with links to access the Environment Agency's floodline service, a free alert service for those living in flood risk areas).
The Met Office web pages also provide useful information about our weather and provide severe weather warnings as appropriate.
Chemical Sites
Some businesses, for example chemical sites, can have an impact on the area around them if they have an emergency. For example, all homes and businesses around a chemical site may have to be evacuated whilst any danger to people is made safe.
How long could your business or organisation cope if access to your building was prevented?
Links to sites for local transport, health and utilities organisations are featured in a list of the Council's Emergency Planning Partners.
Contents of Risk Assessment in Emergency Planning and Business Continuity
- Greater Manchester Community Risk Register
- Considering the Impact of Risks
- Manchester Community Risks - Issues for the Business and Voluntary Sector (this page)
