Corporate security as an integral part of the disaster risk reduction and emergency management system

Abstract

The Disaster Risk Reduction and Emergency Management System in the Republic of Serbia (hereinafter: the Disaster Risk Reduction and Emergency Management System) is regulated by the Law on Disaster Risk Reduction and Emergency Management. This Law establishes an integrated approach to disaster prevention, preparedness, resilience, response, and recovery. Although the Law recognizes the importance of companies' and legal entities' participation in this system, the question of operationalizing their roles in practice arises. Namely, companies and other legal entities have a legal obligation to prepare a Disaster Risk Assessment and a Protection and Rescue Plan, as well as to undertake risk-prevention and reduction measures within the scope of their activities. Their duty to act upon the request of the competent emergency headquarters and to participate in the implementation of protection and rescue measures is also prescribed. A special role is played by companies and other legal entities recognized as entities of particular importance for protection and rescue, as well as by legal entities that perform certain activities, mainly in facilities and systems that constitute critical infrastructure. The efficiency and effectiveness of these entities depends on an optimally organized and functional corporate security system. In addition to the basic function of corporate security, which is the safety of persons, property and operations at the level of a legal entity, it should be borne in mind that corporate security systems have significant potential for taking measures to reduce the risk of disasters, for effective risk management, up to and including the rehabilitation and mitigation of the consequences of disasters. As the SSRKUVS system is recognized as an integral part of the national security system, corporate security systems can be viewed and appreciated as a subsystem of SSRKUVS in the same way. The paper starts from the thesis that corporate security is an integral part of SSRKUVS in the Republic of Serbia. Corporate security, through its functions, primarily through risk assessment, development of protection and rescue plans, management of crises, and ensuring business continuity, contributes to improving proactive action, reducing the consequences of disasters, and increasing the overall resilience of society.