Center for the Study of Traumatic Stress
CSTS | Department of Psychiatry | Uniformed Services University | 4301 Jones Bridge Road, Bethesda, MD 20814-4799 | www.CSTSonline.org

Business Leadershipin Bioterrorism Preparedness
Why Business Leaders Should
Workplace Resources
Prepare■ The corporate infrastructure
Roughly 80% of America’s critical
The workplace is a primary target
has available resources forinfrastructure is managed by the privateof terrorism in the United States. The
preparedness/response
events of 9/11, the anthrax attacks ofsector. A partnership between public andincluding: corporate2001, the Oklahoma City bombing,security, health promotion
private sectors in responding to the threat
and the 1993 World Trade Centerand employee assistanceof terrorism/bioterrorism strengthens ourunderscore the fact that terrorism
resources, human resources,
has occurred where and whennation’s homeland security infrastructure.
business continuity and asset
people work. The goal of terrorism
management, and engineering
is to erode our sense of nationaland facilities.
security, disrupt the continuity of society and destroy■ Integrating these resources and functions maximizessocial capital — morale, cohesion, and shared values.
disaster response.
In taking a proactive role to protect their organization’ssecurity, business continuity and employee health, business
Workplace Resistanceleaders should be aware of the following: 1) the workplace
You may face resistance in executing preparedness plans.
is a newly recognized environment for preparedness,
Consider the following examples:2) the workplace has existing resources to facilitate■ Protests that preparedness will raise more anxiety.
preparedness, 3) the workplace may encounter resistance■ Employee resistance to or physical difficulty practicing
to these preparations, and 4) the workplace can reframedrills.
preparedness to promote resiliency, business continuity, andsocial cohesion.
■ Resistance from corporate continuity silos such as
security, employee assistance, medical, and humanWorkplace Recognition
resources operating autonomously.
■ The Institute of Medicine report: Preparing for the■ Protests about time and financial costs of preparation
Psychological Consequences of Terrorism: A Public
and ultimate inability to prepare for unpredictable
Health Strategy, recognizes the workplace as anevents.
important environment for addressing the psychologicalconsequences of terrorism (IOM, 2003). The IOM
Workplace Resiliency: Reframing Preparedness
report:■ Resiliency is a topic of great interest in the workplace,x Recommends a public health approach to workplaceand it is the expected outcome of disaster.
preparedness encompassing pre-event, event, and■ Resiliency crosses domains including productivity,
post-event planning and responses.
employee health, and business continuity.
x Addresses preparedness as a consequence of■ The Corporate Resiliency Model reframes negative
management that recognizes response behaviors
implications of preparedness to engage participation
to disasters, terrorism, bioterrorism, and affect.
and lessen anxiety.
Preparedness also involves policies, markets, andContinued
partners in addition to employees, leadership, andtheir families.

Business Preparedness Leadership: Public Private
Sector Partnering
Roughly 80% of America’s critical infrastructure ismanaged by the private sector. A partnership between
public and private sectors in responding to the threat ofterrorism/bioterrorism strengthens our nation’s homeland

security infrastructure. The federal disaster response system
is geared toward intervention/treatment of immediateneeds. Business leadership in preparedness education,
event crisis management, post-event evaluation, andtreatment complement federal resources and contribute tosocial cohesion and morale.

RESOURCES■ Center for the Study of Traumatic Stress: https://www.cstsonline.org/■ Terrorism and Disaster, Ursano, R J, Fullerton CS, Norwood, AE Cambridge

University Press, 2003
■ Preparing for the Psychological Consequences of Terrorism: A Public HealthStrategy, The National Academies Press, 2003

Center for the Study of Traumatic Stress
Department of PsychiatryUniformed Services University
4301 Jones Bridge Road, Bethesda, MD 20814-4799
www.CSTSonline.org