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: DRREMS) 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 participating in this system, the question of how to operationalize their role 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, and to undertake risk prevention and reduction measures within the framework of their activities. They are also required to act upon the request of the competent emergency headquarters and participate in implementing protection and rescue measures. A special role is played by companies and other legal entities recognized as of particular importance for protection and rescue, as well as those that perform certain activities, mainly facilities and systems that constitute critical infrastructure. The efficiency and effectiveness of these entities depend on an optimally organized and functional corporate security system. In addition to the basic function of corporate security, which is the security 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, and even for the rehabilitation and mitigation of the consequences of disasters. As the DRREMS is recognized as an integral part of the national security system, corporate security systems can be viewed and appreciated as a subsystem of DRREMS in the same way. The paper starts from the thesis that corporate security is an integral part of DRREMS in the Republic of Serbia. Corporate security, through its functions, primarily through risk assessment, development of protection and rescue plans, crisis management, and ensuring business continuity, contributes to the improvement of proactive action, reduces the consequences of disasters, and increases the overall resilience of society.