Understanding EMS Legal Requirements

Whether your organization hires contractors or is a contractor, it is to both groups’ advantage to be aware of comprehensive EMS legal requirements. From avoiding the pitfalls of non-compliance, to being able to maximize the use of contractor portals like Bench Direct’s, a little knowledge about the legal details can save time and money.

The Emergency Management System (EMS) comprises an integrated set of emergency services with links to city and state law enforcement agencies as well as the national and international emergency management network. Because of the potentially severe penalties for failing to meet the EMS legal requirements, it is critical that companies, contractors, and contracting firms familiarize themselves with the laws. Essentially, the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has guidelines that all companies, contractors, and contracting firms must follow when it comes to specific details about how contractors are engaged or utilized. It is therefore not uncommon for the briefs on contracts for large commissions to be several dozen pages long.

While no small amount of work, having the necessary EMS legal requirements in place accomplishes two goals. The first is to prevent disasters before they occur, by making sure that contractors have all of the critical information on hand that they’ll need to know how to respond quickly and efficiently in the event of an emergency. The second is to streamline the hiring process, since having the EMS requirements in writing creates a more open, more transparent, and more clear pathway between companies, contractors, and contracting firms. This is exactly why Bench Direct makes the EMS legal compliance aspects of the hiring process so straightforward – so that they don’t get in the way of the all important task at hand, which is engaging contractors who can fulfill the clients’ needs as quickly and efficiently as possible.

Having the EMS legal requirements at your fingertips saves time, money, and resources. It prevents complications that can result in a fine between $500 and $500,000 per day for non-compliance. A few examples of where the EMS requirements are applicable include:

Rather than tacking on to the hiring process, Bench Direct allows companies to completely integrate legal information about EMS compliance requirements into the initial evaluation process of hiring contractors. This is especially beneficial for engaging contractors across state or country borders or working across different government departments. Bench Direct will perform the necessary legal checks and balances on all contractors, not just those who recognize the importance of EMS compliance. It does not require that IT contractors have a prior relationship with either the hiring firm or the hiring platform. Rather, the platform promotes the process of building relationships through its openness and transparency of process, ensuring that everyone understands the contractors’ qualifications, abilities, and responsibilities.

If you want to learn more about the EMS Legal Requirements and Compliance requirements and how to avoid staff delays in the hiring process, read more from Helen Jones at Recognizing the EMS Legal Requirements and Compliance Obligations.