Emergency Temporary Structures

In the world of emergency planning and procurement it is often left to a fairly small circle of decision makers to select possible candidates for service provision. This in itself can be a daunting task as quite often the decision maker does not necessarily have the first-hand knowledge or experience in the service they wish to employ or select.  Consequently (much like any other recruitment procedure) the real crux of the selection process, in reality centres on the investigative nature of the initial questions asked.  Nowhere is this more apparent than in the world of temporary structures and accommodation.

Mar-Key thought it would be of interest and assistance to decision makers if some form of questionnaire or check list was provided.  After all, the ability of any temporary structure company to provide both long- and short-term emergency overhead cover is dependent on many factors and is invariably aimed at providing some form of emergency accommodation or warehousing.  All sorts of structures may be called for, from the provision of forensic facilities to that of a temporary Chapel of Rest.

To meet and identify these specific and specialist needs, we suggest you ask the following questions of any potential provider of temporary emergency structures:

• Do you have enough equipment and stock permanently in reserve and is it available on a 24/7 basis?

• Do you have a broad range of stock and equipment and is it suited and durable enough for the emergency task for which it may be needed?

• Do you have the operational capability and the skill base required to build structures to the standard required?

• Can you provide both the service and the standards required in the all-important emergency time frame?

• Do your structures and their ancillary equipment meet both British and European safety standards?

• Are your structures weatherproof and what wind loadings can they undergo before evacuation is necessary?

• Are you willing and able to work alone and without further guidance, once briefed?

• Can you take control and organise sub contractor fits to a high standard to both your structures and generally take control of a site if required?

• Are you contactable on a 24/7 basis?

• Are you conducive to, and readily acceptant of change at very short notice, whilst maintaining both your flexibility and general approachability throughout?

• Do you enjoy wide scale support from your manufacturing base, contractors and suppliers?

• Are you near International Airports and Seaports and able to dispatch both equipment and manpower abroad on an emergency time scale?

• Are you able to work under extreme pressure and still produce the results required?

• If required, can you undertake additional emergency tasks at short notice?

• Can you provide a “one stop facility” with respect to all temporary structure requirements?

• Are you willing to undertake additional formal training (if necessary) to enhance your field performance?

• Can you operate in the field with other out-sourced service providers in a coordinated manner?

• Are you capable of supporting long-term projects at both home and abroad?

Naturally, for the emergency authorities, a temporary structure company that has the attributes and criteria listed above must surely be viewed as more than just a resource, but rather as a partner to any future emergency planning and its subsequent successful conclusion.

If you wish to discuss these issues in more detail, please feel free to contact Martin Stringer or David Tabb via this page.