Emergency Management blogger Eric Holdeman wrote two quotes on a scrap of paper – he doesn’t remember where they came from – that I’d like to share with you. Here is what he has to say:

The first is, “Standards do not equal security.” and the second quote is, “Compliance can make you complacent.” I’ll throw in my own quote that I’ve shared earlier, “Being compliant only means doing the absolute minimum required.” We would not get too complacent just because you hear that there are regulations, standards and other compliance measures in place. You first need to know who those apply to, and secondly, to what degree these are rigorous to begin with.

In other words, compliance is what you have to do, but there may be more that you should do in order to protect your workers, customers, community, business and the environment.

We are pleased that customers appreciate that ProComplianceWare offers them the assurance they are doing the right things to avoid regulatory problems. Violations can be very serious and the rules are generally there for a good reason. We even hear from some customers that PCW gives them confidence, and allows them to relax.

But, as Eric points out, being compliant can lead managers to relax perhaps too much. You may really be doing only the minimum required, so it is important to educate yourself about the hazards your company needs to address. And of course, with PCW in place, you are sure to hear from us as a reminder concerning your own compliance issues and current events.

Depending on your specific situation, “one-size-fits-some” regulations may not be enough to prevent trouble. Understanding that allows companies to not just obey the letter of the law but also its intent. Should you ever have an emergency that results in loss of life, property or significant environmental damage, doing more than was required will demonstrate your knowledge and goodwill.

As for standards not equaling security, that’s something we know is true but we are still tossing around a bit. Does any of this make sense? Do we tend too much toward complacence? Let us know what you think.