Short Guide 16: Collections Incident Response and Salvage Planning

Overview

Heritage collections face many threats, including fire, flooding, pest infestations, and building failures. While incident response plans help protect people and buildings, they do not always address how to safeguard the valuable collections that remain behind.

Part 1 of this guide explains why every heritage organisation should have a clear and practical salvage plan in place before an emergency occurs. It provides guidance on creating a plan that gives staff the information and procedures they need to respond effectively during an incident. 

Part 2 focuses on managing a salvage operation, offering practical advice to support a safe, organised, and efficient response. Because key personnel may not always be available when an incident occurs, the guide includes accessible guidance for all staff. By helping teams prepare in advance and act quickly when needed, this resource supports the protection of collections and helps reduce long-term damage and loss.

Authors

Judith Rowett

Judith Rowett is Collections Programmes Manager (Hazards and Salvage) at Historic Environment Scotland. She has over 20 years' experience working with heritage collections.

Danielle Dray

Danielle Dray is Collections Care Officer at Surgeons’ Hall Museums and supports Historic Environment Scotland’s collections salvage planning programme as an external consultant.