BPM for mutual aid management in industrial emergency response

Responding to industrial emergencies involving hazardous materials is one of the most complex stages of Disaster Risk Management (DRM). The previous is mainly due to the sensitivity of people, the environment, and the economy to be impacted by these emergencies and the different technical and human resources that must be managed to ensure effective and efficient attention that minimizes the impacts on the different environments. In this regard, coordination among the actors involved is crucial to strengthen this stage and reduce potential environmental impacts. Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) have proven effective in reducing risks, improving preparation for critical events, strengthening emergency response, and optimizing recovery after such events occur. In this research, Business Process Management (BPM) has been applied to identify related activities in emergency response with hazardous materials in a mutual aid environment. Additionally, these activities have been designed, modeled, and implemented in a web interface through simulation exercises that allowed for adjustments and process improvements. Among the main findings, it was found that implementing BPM for emergency response management has the potential to improve coordination among the actors involved and boost resource management. Likewise, it was identified that, given the unpredictable nature of emergency characteristics, it is necessary to carefully consider the different scenarios that may arise so that these initiatives can optimize the response.