Caboolture Shire Council in Queensland has developed a coordinated approach to recover Council’s vital records. Council’s Record Supervisor Angela Garnett said the procedure was developed last year to ensure there was a set of clear and comprehensive instructions to recover records, and to ensure a minimum of loss and disruption of services in the event of an emergency or disaster.
In the event of a disaster, natural or man made, the procedure and manual would be used by records management staff, together with relevant parts of the disaster management recovery kit. This would cover all processes from the time of disaster discovery to the preparation of a final report.
“It is the responsibility of Council to continue to provide optimum operating conditions under such circumstances, and ensure continued provision of critical services to customers,” Angela Garret said.
This Records Disaster Recovery Manual and kit are one part of Council’s overall Business Continuity and Disaster Recovery Plan. Caboolture is also aware that disasters may also be caused by storage conditions that are unsuitable for the media held, and by the natural decay of materials.
Anglea Garnett said that the development of the procedure and manual and the participation of Council records management officers in Queensland State Archives disaster training workshops improved their knowledge, confidence and response capabilities. All this was put to good use when confronted with a real life disaster recovery event with a water leak incident in May 2003.
She said the procedures have also been communicated to other staff in the organisation, creating a greater awareness of the risks affecting the records of an organisation and the processes involved in recovering damaged documents.
For further information contact Angela Garnett on (07) 5420 0165 or email garnetta@caboolture.qld.gov.au
