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Critical Incident and Crisis Management Policy

1. Purpose

Edison College Canada is committed to ensuring the safety and well-being of its students, staff, and visitors. This policy establishes a structured approach to managing critical incidents and crises, ensuring prompt response, effective communication, and comprehensive recovery.

2. Scope

This policy applies to all members of the Edison College community, including students, faculty, staff, contractors, and visitors, across all campuses and college-affiliated events.

3. Definitions

  • Critical Incident: An event that disrupts normal operations and poses a significant risk to the safety, health, or well-being of individuals or the institution.
  • Crisis: A critical incident that escalates in severity, requiring coordinated response and recovery efforts beyond routine procedures.

4. Policy Statement

Edison College Canada is dedicated to:

  • Providing a safe and secure environment for all community members.
  • Responding promptly and effectively to critical incidents and crises.
  • Ensuring clear communication during and after an incident.
  • Supporting affected individuals and facilitating recovery.
  • Continuously improving crisis management practices through regular reviews and training.

5. Roles and Responsibilities

5.1 College Community

  • All Members: Report incidents promptly and follow established procedures.
  • Faculty and Staff: Assist in implementing response actions and supporting affected individuals.

6. Procedures

6.1 Incident Reporting

  • Immediate Threats: Call 911 and then notify campus security.
  • Non-Emergent Incidents: Report to the Crisis Management Team via the designated contact points.

6.2 Assessment and Activation

  • The CMT assesses the incident’s severity and activates the appropriate response level.
  • Affected areas are secured, and resources are mobilized.

6.3 Response Actions

  • Implement the Incident Action Plan (IAP) tailored to the specific incident.
  • Coordinate with external agencies as needed.
  • Provide timely updates to the college community.

6.4 Recovery and Continuity

  • Initiate recovery operations to restore normal activities.
  • Offer support services to individuals affected by the incident.
  • Review and revise policies and procedures based on lessons learned.

7. Communication

  • Internal Communication: Use established channels to disseminate information to students, staff, and faculty.
  • External Communication: Coordinate with media and external stakeholders through the Communications Officer.
  • Crisis Communication Plan: Maintain a plan for consistent messaging during a crisis.: Coordinate with media and external stakeholders through the Communications Officer.

8. Training and Drills

  • Conduct regular training sessions for all college members on crisis management procedures.
  • Organize annual drills simulating various critical incidents to test response capabilities.

9. Review and Evaluation

  • After each incident, the CMT conducts a debrief to evaluate the response and identify areas for improvement.
  • The policy is reviewed annually and updated as necessary to reflect best practices and regulatory requirements.

10. Approval and Implementation

This policy is approved by the Board of Governors and is effective immediately upon distribution.

Important Contacts

Effective Date: June 10, 2025
Revision Date: June 10, 2025