Surrey Fire and Rescue Service has been recognised for its ability to operate effectively under the most extreme disruption such as natural disasters. The service has been awarded the British Standards Institute's (BSI) business continuity certificate.

In order to achieve the accolade, firefighters and staff had to prove they have the ability to continue working effectively when their own operations are disrupted. The BSI rigorously inspected the service four times over a 13-month period before it was awarded the certification.

Kay Hammond, Surrey County Council Cabinet Member for Community Safety, said: "Everyone from Surrey Fire and Rescue Service should be very proud of this achievement. It reflects the hard work and professionalism that firefighters and staff show each and every day. Like everyone else the emergency services can be affected by disruptions to their everyday operations and this certificate shows they have the ability to overcome them."

Chief Fire Officer Russell Pearson said: "It's our job to respond to emergencies on a daily basis but this recognition shows we are prepared to deal with those rare but extreme situations, such as natural disasters, that disrupt the way we work and make it harder for emergency services to do their job when they are needed most. We proved to the BSI that we are prepared for anything during a series of rigorous assessments."

Maureen Sumner Smith, Global Marketing Director at BSI said: "Continued operations in the event of disruption is a paramount requirement for any organisation but particularly for the emergency services. It is one thing to say you have business continuity plans in place but to have them externally and independently audited and certified reflects a commitment to management best practice and public assurance as demonstrated by Surrey Fire and Rescue Service."

 

Posted: 11.47am, 08.04.11