In the mining industry, businesses must be prepared to manage multiple crisis events at once. Credit: Thomas Barwick / DigitalVision via Getty Images. Credit:
In fast-moving mining operations, multiple events may need managing across several locations globally. Yet using the traditional business resilience model limits the ability to gain and maintain situational awareness, manage resource allocation and fatigue, as well as lacking the necessary flexibility in the response.
The only way to manage multiple events simultaneously is through a tech-driven operational resilience program. This provides the capability to maintain control of several events at once across different points of time and geographies. Business as usual (BAU) must continue as best as possible in the circumstances, while ensuring that an event is managed to completion and opportunities for improvement are not missed.
Despite Covid-19 challenging operations during the past two years and presenting new levels of complexity for business leaders, traditional threats to businesses remain. For example, threats such as reputational, whistle-blower, natural perils, and cybersecurity have continued throughout the pandemic, which can all significantly impact operational continuity. And with resources diverted towards the pandemic response, this has increased the potential for vulnerability in other areas.
Dynamiq’s business resilience platform, EMQnet enables reporting, tracking and monitoring progress over time. And data captured through the platform allows for trend analysis, helping build an understanding of where ongoing issues are occurring and any identifying areas that require focus. The platform also has a map feature that displays incidents around the world, allowing a snapshot of the various event types across the Globe. All these features offer increased accessibility of vital information.
“Having multiple events within EMQnet will allow people to understand what their focus is at that particular point in time. The paper-based or traditional method of crisis management or business resilience is difficult to follow if there is a need to manage multiple events. And it’s difficult to maintain situational awareness to get back into that focused mindset when you are changing between events. Whereas EMQnet allows you to refresh yourself through reading the status board and confirming the status of tasks and management of stakeholders,” explains Lucas Saunders, Head of Advisory at Dynamiq.
Managing resources during multiple events
A key consideration in managing multiple events is allocation of resources, especially when different event types may be at varying stages. Some areas may require more attention than others and need prioritising, yet full oversight is necessary across all events should any escalations occur.
In a crisis response, leaders get to see their team perform under pressure, which helps identify talent with the ability to handle stressful environments. While at the other end, any members of staff that may be challenged in particular situations can either receive extra training to address deficiencies or be redeployed to other operations where they are less exposed.
Leaders must also recognise opportunities for continuous improvement through lessons learned, and ensure these learnings are shared up, across and down through the organisation to build capability. However, opportunities can sometimes be missed when responding to multiple events at once.
“You’ve got to be able to manage the event cycle,” says Saunders. “The instinct is that once an event is dealt with to return to BAU and continue on, not taking the time to pause and reflect.
“If you’re not doing those after-action reviews, and you’re looking for opportunities to improve, you’re just going to continue to go from event to event. The entire purpose of conducting after action reviews is to enhance the organisational business resilience capability.”
When responding to multiple events, it is often necessary to involve other teams. EMQnet can add multiple teams, both internal and external experts, to an event to enable collaboration between several parties and strengthen the response.
“Take a cyclone or severe weather event as an example. You potentially have a regional corporate office and multiple mine sites within the cyclone-prone area. The organisation can start an event in EMQnet and invite multiple teams,” explains Saunders. “Some clients did this during cyclone Debbie [in Australia] and it’s similar to the approach taken with Covid. They can have the one event and develop those plans across as many sites or locations as they need.”
Challenges with multiple events management
Fatigue is a key consideration in the effective and efficient management of multiple events affecting an organisation, particularly in heavy industries. Response fatigue must be managed to avoid workers experiencing burnout, especially when trying to perform under duress or dealing with stress in a crisis. Working across multiple events simultaneously can significantly intensify the strain on all personnel.
“Fatigue is a real issue. It impacts their decision-making process. It impacts their ability to do business as usual. It also impacts their families and their loved ones,” says Saunders.
And post-pandemic, leaders also need to be aware of the potential for both skill fade and a loss of mental stamina after workers have been absent from the workplace for extended periods in the past two years.
“Then there’s safety. Because people with fatigue will make poor decisions. Identifying and managing that fatigue through relieving people in place or putting alternate people in various roles can help mitigate that,” adds Saunders.
EMQnet platform records who is working on any particular event, indicating who may need a break and when. The platform builds a common operating picture across multiple events at once to enable operations continuity and establish a cohesive response for as long as an event lasts and however many incidents there may be, and at all times monitoring personnel participation and involvement in the event management.
Warner Bros. is preparing for a massive new slate of projects within the DC Extended Universe, many with major crossover potential down the road. This will start at the end of 2022 with Black Adam and Shazam!: Fury of the Gods before the really wild events in 2023’s The Flash change everything. The Multiverse will be explored, and multiple worlds will converge upon each other.
This solo outing is already confirmed to bring in Michael Keaton and Ben Affleck as Batman alongside Sasha Calle’s Supergirl, with speculation swirling that the film will restart the entire DCEU as well. On top of that, a new rumor is hinting at another major event that could come to fruition by the time the film’s credits roll.
DC Leak Hints at Crisis Event
Warning: The rest of this article contains potential spoilers for The Flash movie.
DC
KC Walsh of Geeks WorldWide shared one of his old leaks on Twitter hinting that Warner Bros. is planning a Crisis on Infinite Earths event for the DC Extended Universe.
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“So DC/WBs plan is to build a Crisis on Infinite Earths Event if that wasn’t obvious already”
Walsh shared that Ben Affleck is still intent on finishing his time with the DCEU in The Flash, but that he may leave the door open to return for a Crisis-style event.
“Batfleck is still very much done with DCEU, but leaving the door open for him to come back during a crisis event if he wants makes sense, but I’ll take the L”
While Crisis supposedly isn’t a part of The Flash, the movie sets up a possible Crisis event at the very end with a scene featuring Affleck’s Batman:
“[The Flash] sets up [a Crisis on Infinite Earths-inspired event] at the end. This is the Batfleck scene that people are referencing, it sets up Crisis”
Walsh doesn’t spoil the scene, but he did hint that it will involve the Caped Crusader:
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“I’m not going to spoil it but it involves Batman”
The scooper made it clear that the days of direct Zack Snyder sequels are done, although he thinks Warner Bros. will market The Flash so that fans think the opposite:
“You’re never getting direct Snyder sequels, [Warner Bros.] are going to make you think you are so you all continue to buy in, like you’re doing with The Flash and then they will bring everyone back for a crisis event and call it a win”
Walsh clearly indicated that this event movie is in early development and is “maybe” 3-5 years away from its release.
The Crisis on Infinite Earths event is one that came to fruition on TV thanks to multiple shows from the Arrowverse merging together into one massive storyline. While it’s unlikely that the DCEU version will be similar in terms of story beats, the impact that Crisis has on the theatrical side will likely be just as monumental, if not more so.
With The Flash still more than a year away from releasing in theaters, there likely won’t be any confirmed story details or changes to the franchise revealed in the foreseeable future. Even so, considering all that’s been said about the Scarlet Speedster’s first big screen outing, this story could steal Black Adam‘s mission of changing the hierarchy of the DCEU.
Exclusive: Prime Minister Scott Morrison has defended the Australian Government’s response to crisis events following criticism he acted “too slow” to assist in the face of emergencies.
In an exclusive interview with Nine’s Political Editor Chris Uhlmann on Today, Mr Morrison said he did not accept that narrative, but every crisis had its learning curves.
“You look at the bushfires, then COVID-19, and then the floods – there are some who would say if you were across all those sorts of things there’s been a familiar pattern – a lack of foresight, acting too slowly when the crisis comes … do you accept any of that as criticism of the way you behave?” Uhlmann asked.
Scott Morrison sits down with Nine’s Political Editor Chris Uhlmann for an exclusive interview. (Nine)
“There is a chorus of commentary that seeks to support that,” Mr Morrison said.
“That is often the same chorus that didn’t like how the last election went.”
The prime minister claimed Australia was quick to move on the JobKeeper program and close its borders to China when the COVID-19 pandemic first hit.
“Was Australia slow to move in calling out the origins of the virus? No,” he said.
When asked if he acted “too slow” to provide assistance for flood-hit communities, Mr Morrison said he moved as quickly as possible.
“We moved as quickly as the defence forces and the agencies can,” he said.
Nine’s Political Editor Chris Uhlmann interviewed Scott Morrison on his response to crisis events. (Nine)
“I understand the frustration because in a disaster like I have seen up in Lismore, no response is ever going to be able to meet the overwhelming need.”
The first response “always come from the community”, Mr Morrison added.
“Then it comes from the SES and then the ADF comes and supports that.”
Problems seem to mount for Russia in terms of hosting international events with swimming governing body FINA deciding to cancel the World junior Swimming Championship. The event was all set to take place in Kazan, Russia, in late August however the Russia Ukraine war has now prompted the swimming governing body to take such a major step.
FINA cancels World Junior Swimming Championships
FINA has released a statement stating that it was looking for a replacement host for the event. The statement said,
“FINA remains extremely concerned with the continuing war in Ukraine and following ongoing consultation with athletes and stakeholders from the aquatics family, FINA can now confirm that the 8th FINA World Junior Swimming Championships and FINA will not be holding any future events in Russia if this grave crisis continues”.
Before cancelling the World Junior Swimming Championship, FINA on Friday had called off a men’s water polo World League match in St. Petersburg next month while an Artistic Swimming and Diving World Series event scheduled for April in Kazan was also cancelled.
FINA reiterates its pledge to provide whatever practical support it can to members of the Aquatics family who are impacted by this situation and expresses its deepest sympathies and support to the people of Ukraine pic.twitter.com/0vBx8VVjWG
Other international events were cancelled due to Russia Ukraine war
Besides the Swimming event, the Russia Ukraine war has also resulted in the cancellation of many other sporting events. The UEFA has moved the 2022 Champions League final out of Russia in light of the conflict. The football associations of Poland, Sweden, and the Czech Republic have threatened to boycott Russia in their upcoming World Cup qualifier games. Formula One has already called off the Russian Grand Prix, which was scheduled to be held in September.
The International Chess Federation (FIDE) has moved the Chess Olympiad and FIDE Congress out of Russia. The events were due to be held in Russia later this year. The International Ski Federation has cancelled or moved five World Cup events that were scheduled to be held in Russia. The International Judo Federation (IJF) has cancelled its Grand Slam event in Kazan, Russia. IJF on Sunday. The Federation also suspended Russian President Vladimir Putin’s status as ‘Honorary President and Ambassador’ of the International Judo Federation. The Russian president is a keen judoka and had attended the sport during the 2012 London Olympics.
Thousands of protesters began occupying the streets of Ottawa just less than three weeks ago, pledging to stay until all COVID-19 mandates and restrictions were removed,
While the message and purpose of the occupation has somewhat shifted, one thing remains: turmoil for residents and business owners in the downtown core.
The Ottawa Police Service has been the target of harsh criticism over its handling of the convoy crisis before and during the occupation, which culminated in the resignation of former police chief Peter Sloly.
Here’s a look back at how this started and where Ottawa sits now.
Supporters cheer on drivers in the protest convoy headed for Ottawa from an overpass in Kingston, Ont., on Friday, Jan. 28. (Lars Hagberg/The Canadian Press)
Jan. 23: Convoy spreads message across Canada
As people in Ottawa slugged through another round of COVID-19 restrictions coupled with extremely cold temperatures, another challenge was about to arrive.
The so-called “Freedom Convoy” assembled in various locations across Canada and participants vowed to travel to the heart of the nation’s capital to fight COVID-19 mandates and restrictions, including a vaccine mandate for truckers to cross the Canada-U.S. border.
A person pumps their fists as they stand on top of a transport truck after arriving on Wellington Street in front of on Parliament Hill on Jan. 28. (Justin Tang/The Canadian Press)
Jan. 28: Protesters arrive for 1st weekend
The first Thursday and Friday saw the most eager members of the convoy parking their large trucks in Ottawa and blocking streets in the downtown core.
One of the protest’s key organizers warned participants to demonstrate peacefully.
“We cannot achieve our goals if there are threats or acts of violence,” said Benjamin Dichter. “This movement is a peaceful protest, and we do not condone any acts of violence.”
He warned protesters not to enter government buildings, disrespect police officers, act in a way that escalates tense situations, and make “any type of threat.”
The City of Ottawa told residents to expect “significant traffic and transit delays or disruptions.”
Crowds are seen from a helicopter near Parliament Hill on Jan. 29. This was the largest gathering during the occupation. (Alexander Behne/CBC)
Jan. 29: Gathering draws thousands
The largest demonstration took place as thousands converged on Parliament Hill, along with the constant honking of truck and train horns, plus the smell of diesel fuel throughout the downtown core.
Police said no incidents of violence or injury was reported at the event, despite being loud and disruptive. That didn’t mean there weren’t problems, though.
Hateful messaging was spotted amid the crowds, including at least one Confederate Flag and anti-Semitic messaging such as swastikas.
One demonstrator was caught on camera dancing on the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, while demonstrators adorned a statue of Terry Fox — the inspirational runner who inspired the nation with his “marathon of hope” — with anti-vaccine material and a defaced Canadian flag.
There was an outpouring of condemnation over the way demonstrators decorated the Terry Fox statue. The Canadian icon remains revered more than 40 years after his ‘Marathon of Hope’ and untimely death at age 22. (Adrian Wyld/The Canadian Press)
The blatant disregard for public health measures, including the wearing of masks, forced the Rideau Centre and other downtown businesses to close.
Jan. 30: More closures due to demonstration
On the first Sunday, the downtown core was once again filled with the sounds of honking and chanting as thousands gathered near Parliament Hill for a second full day of protests.
As of late Sunday evening, the Portage, Chaudière and Alexandra bridges were all closed to traffic, which caused headaches for residents in the region needing to travel to and from work.
Several city-run facilities in the downtown would close Monday including Ottawa City Hall, the Rink of Dreams, and the Ottawa Public Library’s Main and Rideau branches.
At the time, former police chief Peter Sloly said it was possible the protest — which did not have a permit — could extend for several more days.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced he had COVID-19 on Jan. 31 as thousands of protesters remained in Ottawa. (Adrian Wyld/The Canadian Press via AP)
Week of Jan. 31: PM, mayor won’t meet with protesters
By Tuesday, despite growing criticism from residents and academics, Ottawa’s police chief praised the service’s response to a protest he called “unique in nature, massive in scale, polarizing in context and dangerous in literally every other aspect of the event itself.”
The force’s hate crime hotline was also re-shared to encourage residents to share information about hate crimes related to the demonstrations.
Former Ottawa police chief Peter Sloly expressed a belief policing alone couldn’t solve the ongoing demonstration in Ottawa. (Justin Tang/The Canadian Press)
On Wednesday, Sloly said policing might not be enough to end the protest on its own.
“This is a national issue, not an Ottawa issue,” Sloly said. “I am increasingly concerned there is no policing solution to this.”
Public Safety Minister Marco Mendicino said the RCMP was sending additional resources to assist Ottawa police at the request of the mayor.
Convoy fundraiser co-organizer Tamara Lich spoke on Feb. 3 at the Marriott Hotel in Ottawa. She did not take any questions from the media. (Francis Ferland/CBC)
Feb. 4: GoFundMe shut down
Ottawa police said they would increase their presence and further restrict access to the city’s downtown to control what was expected to be another weekend of noisy protests, but they warned the situation remained volatile and dangerous.
In a Friday morning news release, police said their new “surge and contain strategy” would allow about 150 more officers to be dedicated to patrolling central Ottawa neighbourhoods and enforcing laws.
Ontario Premier Doug Ford said it was time for the “occupation” in Ottawa to end.
Meanwhile, some city councillors of downtown wards walked the streets and said they would continue to do so throughout the weekend to keep residents safe.
Also, the crowdfunding platform GoFundMe announced it would stop payments to the organizers of “Freedom Convoy 2022” and refund donors directly because the protest violated its rules on violence and harassment.
Two protesters ride horses by parked trucks and near Parliament Hill during the second weekend of the demonstration. (Adrian Wyld/The Canadian Press)
Some protesters appeared to have settled in, with bouncy castles, barbecues, wooden shacks and piles of food and fuel appearing in downtown streets and nearby parks.
A protester carries empty jerry cans to troll police officers who were trying to crack down on the transportation of fuel to downtown vehicles. (Justin Tang/The Canadian Press)
At an emergency meeting of the Ottawa Police Services Board on Saturday, board chair Coun. Diane Deans said the city was “under siege” and demanded a “concrete plan” to bring the demonstrations to an end.
Feb. 6: City declares state of emergency
The City of Ottawa declared a state of emergency on Sunday and Mayor Jim Watson described the situation in the nation’s capital as the “the most serious emergency our city has ever faced.”
That evening, dozens of heavily armed police officers descended on the baseball stadium parking lot on Coventry Road, which served as the staging area for the protesters operating in the downtown core.
Protesters said police removed the fuel that was being stored there to supply trucks parked in the city centre.
Ottawa Mayor Jim Watson declared a municipal state of emergency as the second weekend of the demonstration came to a close. (Felix Desroches/Radio-Canada)
Week of Feb. 7: Need more cops to ‘turn up the heat’
As Ottawa moved into its second full week of dealing with the demonstration, Chief Peter Sloly told a meeting of Ottawa city council he needed an influx of almost 2,000 police officers and civilians to “turn up the heat.”
The city increased fines for noise, idling and fires but demonstrators didn’t seem deterred.
Zexi Li, a 21-year-old resident of Ottawa, is the face of a class-action lawsuit filed against organizers of the convoy that remains in the nation’s capital. (CBC)
On Thursday, a group of protesters disrupted traffic around Ottawa’s main airport for about two hours.
Police also said 911 lines were flooded with bogus calls, many of them originating from the United States.
Two protesters sit in a hot tub at the intersection of O’Connor and Wellington streets in downtown Ottawa on Feb. 12. (Patrick Louiseize/CBC)
Feb. 12: 3rd weekend arrives
Despite warnings, increased fines, and a hit to the pocketbook of those occupying Ottawa, most left their vehicles in park, and police didn’t move to change that.
The Saturday event featured demonstrators enjoying another live concert, but this time with an inflatable hot tub and more illegal fires to keep warm.
The display was enough to push some residents to put their feet down — in the middle of Bank Street.
A counter protest featured hundreds blocking trucks heading toward the downtown core for several hours, while Ottawa police set up an integrated command centre with its provincial and federal policing counterparts.
An Ottawa resident holds a sign as they participate in a counter protest to stop vehicles from driving to Parliament Hill. ( Justin Tang/The Canadian Press)
The move gives the federal government temporary powers to handle ongoing blockades and protests against pandemic restrictions.
Feb. 15: Police chief resigns
As day 19 arrived, Peter Sloly announced his resignation as the police chief in Ottawa.
In his resignation letter, Sloly said he was proud of his ability to overhaul the force’s culture to better reflect the “diversity of the community we serve.”
He also said he was leaving the force confident it was “better positioned to end this occupation.”
Interim Ottawa police Chief Steve Bell, left, answers a question at a news conference in early February. Bell takes over for Peter Sloly, right, who resigned on Feb. 15. (Justin Tang/The Canadian Press)
