These tragic events called into sharp focus the continued need for broadly applicable private-sector preparedness measures that assist individual small businesses in maintaining operations in the face of unexpected circumstances.
On May 25, 2011, the American National Standards Institute Homeland Security Standards Panel (ANSI-HSSP) will host Achieving Preparedness through Standards Implementation: Challenges and Opportunities for Small Businesses, a workshop focusing on the unique needs of small businesses in preparing for unforeseen challenges.
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The workshop will provide small-business owners and their representatives the chance to speak directly with the parties that are shaping private-sector preparedness initiatives, and to voice their concerns and perspectives vis-à-vis preparedness. The workshop will also discuss the Voluntary Private Sector Preparedness Accreditation and Certification Program (PS-Prep) and the program's efforts to date in making standards and conformance accessible to small businesses. PS-Prep is a 9/11 Commission-recommended initiative intended to improve preparedness for disasters and emergencies in the private sector. [see related news item]
The May 25 workshop seeks to foster active dialogue among small businesses, standards developing organizations, federal agencies, and other stakeholders to support private-sector preparedness through the implementation of voluntary consensus standards. A final report outlining findings and recommendations from the workshop will be published following the event.
The workshop will be held on May 25, 2011, at the Executive Conference Center in Arlington, VA. Attendance is free of charge, but all attendees must register by May 11, 2011. For more information or to register, visit the event page.