CAN-ASC-5.1 Standard on Emergency Measures: Public Review Draft – 3. Definitions

After-action review – structured review or debriefing process for analyzing an event, capturing lessons learned and identifying opportunities for improvement (Source: ISO 41018)

Continuity of Operations – capability to continue essential program functions and to preserve essential processes and functions, positions, lines of succession, applications and records, communications, and facilities across a broad range of potential emergencies/disasters. (Source: NFPA 1600)

Crisis Management – ability of an organization to manage incidents that have the potential to cause significant security, financial, or reputational impacts.

Disaster – severe and prolonged emergency that threatens life, property, the environment, and/or critical systems.

Emergency – incident or set of incidents that requires responsive actions to protect life, property, the environment, and/or critical systems.

Emergency Management – ongoing process to prevent, mitigate, prepare for, respond to, maintain continuity during, and to recover from, an incident that threatens life, property, operations, information, or the environment.

Emergency Management Program – system that provides for management and coordination of prevention, mitigation, preparedness, response, recovery and risk assessment activities for all hazards. The system encompasses all organizations, agencies, departments, and individuals having responsibilities for these activities.

Evacuation – organized, phased, and supervised movement of people, animals, and/or materials from dangerous or potentially dangerous areas to places of safety.

Hazard – potentially damaging physical event or phenomenon, that could cause the loss of life or injury, property damage, social or economic disruption, or environmental degradation.

Mitigation – actions taken pro-actively to reduce the risks and impacts posed by incidents.

Organization – person or group of people that has its own functions with responsibilities, authorities and relationships to achieve its

Note 1 to entry: The concept of organization includes, but is not limited to, sole-trader, company, corporation, firm, enterprise, authority, charity or institution, or part or combination thereof, whether incorporated or not, public or private.

(Source: ISO 22300)

Preparedness – measures taken in advance of an incident to ensure an effective response and recovery.

Prevention – measures that enable an organization to avoid, preclude or limit the impact of an undesirable event or potential disruption.

Recovery – restoration and improvement, where appropriate, of operations, facilities, livelihoods or living conditions of affected organizations, including efforts to reduce risk factors.

Risk Assessment – overall process of risk identification, risk analysis and risk evaluation.

Note 1 to entry: Risk assessment involves the process of identifying internal and external threats and vulnerabilities, identifying the likelihood and impact of an event arising from such threats or vulnerabilities, defining critical functions necessary to continue the organization’s operations, defining the controls in place necessary to reduce exposure, and evaluating the cost of such controls.

(Source: ISO 22300)

Vulnerable Person – individual who might be less able to anticipate, cope with, resist or recover from the impacts of an emergency.

(Source : ISO 22395)