Crisis Management

In a time of crisis, the first few hours are critical. In addition to mitigating the cause of a crisis, a company must take care to communicate continuously and openly about how it is managing and resolving the situation. If not, the crisis can worsen. Doing this effectively takes considerable planning, organization, and practice – well before a crisis takes place. Did You Know? Did You Know? Crisis Management If not properly managed, the media attention that often results from a crisis situation can hinder a company’s ability to respond to the crisis itself, undermine the confidence of stakeholders and have negative impacts on the company’s corporate reputation. What is Towards Sustainable Mining (TSM)? A globally recognized sustainability program that helps mining companies manage their environmental and social responsibilities and evaluate and publicly report their performance A mandatory requirement for companies in a growing number of mining associations around the world, offering tools to drive continuous performance improvements Crisis Management and Communications Planning The TSM Crisis Management and Communications Planning Protocol lays out a clear set of criteria for companies to: • Plan to manage a crisis and to communicate effectively with employees, authorities, and the community during crisis response • Review the plan on a regular basis to make sure that it responds to company needs, properly reflects risks, and incorporates best practices • Train employees to manage a crisis through annual crisis simulation exercises What is a Crisis? A crisis is a sudden event or set of circumstances that could significantly affect a company’s ability to carry out its business. It could represent a threat to the environment or to the health and safety of employees, neighbouring communities, or the public at large. In today’s global digital environment, a crisis can receive global attention within minutes, thrusting a company into the media spotlight. A company’s response to the crisis is closely monitored by investors and shareholders, governments, employees, community leaders and others. Raising the Bar: Leading Practice in Crisis Management What does good practice look like? • A crisis management and communications plan endorsed by the CEO • Crisis management teams at both the corporate and local level, with clear roles and responsibilities • Regular review of notification and alert mechanisms and the crisis management and communications plan • Annual simulation exercises to ensure adequate training and preparedness at both corporate and local levels