Nature of Accidents and Catastrophes - Assignment Example

Accidents and Catastrophes The nature of accidents and catastrophes is one that involves classifications and ideals that impact various areas. This not only reaches different communities and individuals, but also includes a change in various factors for living and comfort that are linked to the areas. This begins with the different families, community areas and spaces that are in the area. This continues with the way that the economy is affected with the catastrophes. Beyond this, are political changes and legislation that results from the catastrophes. This is used to completely understand the catastrophe that happens, as well as a definition in further prevention of the accidents that occur. Understanding how these combine into changing the way different communities function, as well as lessons learned and implications on various levels also provides insight into systems that are linked directly to the different incidents. To understand the impact of threats and how they relate to those in a community, one first has to understand the different types of accidents and catastrophes that individuals may be subjected to. These make a difference in the pro-active actions that individuals may take, as well as responses and consequences that follow from the catastrophes. By identifying different levels of the accidents, communities are more susceptible to not only responding correctly, but also can work towards different solutions for the problems at hand. There are several groups of classifications that are used when identifying a catastrophe. The first main type is known as natural disasters and the second are known as man made disasters. For instance, if a hurricane destroys a community, it is defined as a natural catastrophe. If a terrorist blows up a building; however, than it is considered a man made disaster. These are divided into categories first because of the need to identify the type of threat, as well as the response that is needed from the community, government and organisations. For instance, if a terrorist threat occurs, police and special forces will be needed. If it is a natural disaster, on the other hand, than special organisations to help affected families is needed. These categories are further divided into defining the disaster, starting with the classification that includes the consequences of the event. This is the outcome from any type of disaster. For instance, if the outcome of a terrorist attack is a certain number of deaths and injuries, as well as destruction of an area, than this will move it into a specific classification. The next is the duration of the event. For instance, if an earthquake only lasts for five seconds, it will be in a different classification than one that lasts for a longer time frame. These are further divided into zones that are destroyed by the accident that occurs. The last part of this includes intervention measures that have to be taken as a result of the identified problem that occurs. If the intervention measures include evacuation, for instance, than this will be in a different classification than if it simply takes staying in a basement for two hours. This also includes what organisations and governments have to do to help individuals to recover (Provitolo, 2007). This classification system continues to include a standard legislation which communities, military and other individuals use to identify what is taking place with the catastrophe. This is often referred to as the “Human Factor Analysis and Classification System,” also known as the HFACS. This identifies the levels of classification as noted above, and also defines specific factors that could allow military, government and the community to prevent the catastrophe or disaster from affecting individuals more than necessary. By combining pro-active measures for future catastrophes, as well as results from past catastrophes, the government and individuals are able to understand better options for the disaster. With this, the HFACS will look at different levels of human failure. These are ones that could have prevented the accident from occurring, and responds by moving pro-actively to prevent further actions from taking place. This includes things such as skill based errors, not responding correctly to emergencies, mental conditions of individuals and failures that happened during the task that should have been prevented. It can be noted that this system is based on identifying not only the disaster and the responses from community members, but also reactions from governments and agencies that could have further prevented injury and harm from the disaster. This is designed to stop failed responses to accidents that may occur, as well as the difficulties that may arise from them (Mussulman, Laura, 2004). The combination of classifications is one that is then able to identify both the accidents that occur, as well as specifics to the responses that occur from them. This combined set of classifications allows individuals to move towards preventing casualties and accidents with the correct responses and preparations, as well as understanding what needs to be done to help with safety in the case of an accident or catastrophe occurring. It is from these set of human factors, as well as classifications that different sets of individuals are able to take with finding the correct steps. To completely understand the classification system; however, is also the need to understand how the different information affects different areas. Understanding modern day threats and the impacts that it has on a specific area moves into this classification system for an understanding of how it may affect different individuals. For example, terrorist threats are continuing to grow in the area of London, and is impacting various levels of life. The threats have moved into stopping various areas of life for the safety of citizens. This includes international terrorism that is moving into various areas of the UK, including London as a main area of attack. This also includes threats from a wider spread of weapons of mass destruction. Espionage is a third in which individuals are responding to at a high level in the area, starting in the 1990s. With these various threats, are different responses that the community of London has had. This includes security devices that have been built to prevent terrorists from changing the safety of individuals. This also includes The Joint Terrorism Analysis Centre, which provides information on potential attacks and lets individuals know what to do if an attack on London or in various areas occurs. Most responses are coming from military and political actions, such as with the security advice and pre-cautions taken. This also includes adding in options such as threat levels, where the terrorist attacks are mild to severe. This lets individuals in the community know what they can do to protect against terrorist attacks in the area (Security Service M15, 2008). An example of this can be seen with current bomb threats that were made over subway stations in London. As a response to this, the security system recommended that the subways shut down for the time in which the bomb threat was made. The second response to this was government officials who began to seek the terrorist groups that would have made this type of threat, as well as finding the potential bomb in the subway station. When the bomb was found, it was detonated and the group began to be searched for. This shows how the security responses to this type of threat moves through several classification levels. This is combined with a disaster recovery system to stop complications. This is designed to stop the problem occurring and to keep the community safe while the threat is taken care of. If this were not done, it would mean several problems, including several injured or dead citizens, as well as a subway and train that was not able to function, causing a backlash in things such as finances, transportation options and normal functioning of individuals (CBC, 2000). The legislation that is currently designated to assist in the terrorist threats is based on two aspects of the classification system. The first is security systems that are being designed for those that are in the area. This begins with training and response systems that are being set up in businesses, buildings and other areas where terrorist attacks may occur. The ideal is to make sure that all individuals understand what their responsibilities are and know what to do before the attack occurs. By focusing on this, the individuals can get to safety, without panicking in relation to the attack that is occurring. This is combined with the Federal Emergency Management Agency that works towards creating the training manuals and other safety needs related to terrorist attacks (McGlown, 2004). This has been combined with several other factors being used to stop and prevent terrorism in the area. Soon after major attacks were made in 2000 and 2001, individuals were given grants to research the concept of terrorism, as well as the defences that needed to be taken in relation to them. In this, individuals found what the responses should be to terrorist threats, as well as terrorist attacks, with a complete understanding of the difference between the two and the characteristics involved in domestic attacks, as well as international attacks. This is combined with the participation of businesses and private sector organisations so individuals can further understand the implications of these types of threats. With the use of knowledge, individuals are able to respond more effectively to terrorism, not only in work areas, but also through government responses (Wilkinson, 2002). This combination of perspectives that is being used with legislation, disaster management and prevention is combined with reconstruction strategies in the event that terrorism does occur. This is being done through counter-terrorism strategies that are continuously being built through legislation. This is known as CONTEST, meaning countering international terrorism. “CONTESTS aim is to reduce the risk from international terrorism, so that people can go about their daily lives freely and with confidence. The strategy is divided into four principle standards: prevent, pursue, protect and prepare” (TSO, 2006). This is being done by finding those who may commit terrorist acts, cooperating with governments abroad that may be linked to stopping terrorist acts and building security in areas such as public places and subways. It is being said that by prosecuting terrorists and preventing them from moving into the country, through tighter controls, that the reconstruction can be prevented. This is combined with working with different sectors in building and maintaining security in different areas (TSO, 2006). A second type of threat that is occurring is with the internal violence that is happening in London. This is mostly coming from youth violence and gangs that are in the area. It is being reported that youth violence is on the rise, and stabbings are the second highest form of threats aside from terrorism. This includes a rise in gang members, starting from younger ages, as well as more common violence coming from the youth that are involved with the gangs. Even though this problem is being recognized, it is also being stated by officials that not enough security measures are being taken to stop the youth from the killings, with more youth dying from stabs and wounds coming from gang fights. The legislation that is involved are working on policing and security options to stop the incidents, as well as ways to prevent youth from becoming involved in gangs or carrying the knives in the area (Fresco, 2008). The lessons learned from this are linked to the cultural and socio-economic affiliations that are affecting the youth and causing the gang violence to move to all time highs. Since prevention in the past has not been taken, it is causing a response from the youth to move into this area of activity. This is combined with what is now being called social responses to certain behaviours. Most are recognizing that the behaviour from youth is a reaction to the environment around them. The community, as well as legislative areas, are recognizing the need to alter some of the environmental areas and to begin changing what the availability of activities are for the youth that are in the area. The disaster management plan from London, in response to the gang violence, is being initiated as a top down initiative. This is being initiated through educational systems that are being established for at-risk youth that are in the area. This is being initiated by defining the socio-economic areas that are needed to grow, combined with cultural differences that are in different suburban areas of London. These combined ideals are said to be a part of the basis of youth, as family life, school systems and other areas are causing the youth to lack the educational needs and concepts as a part of their development. As a result, they are moving into gang atmospheres. Different child disaster recovery areas are being established, which are based on troubled youth and youth that are in gangs, with the hope to stop the amount of threats from the youth (Mitchell, 2008). The legislation that is being developed in relation to the communication and educational areas that are being developed is based on policing effects that are being implemented at higher degrees. This is being done by finding hotspots that are a part of the youth problems and focusing on groups of youth in the area. In the areas where larger groups are, the police are given the right to cause the youth to disperse, so there are no more than two individuals who are together. This is combined with police having the right to visit schools to find any suspicious behaviours or difficulties that may be linked to gangs in certain areas. This is being used to disperse youth groups that may be a part of gang activity so better prevention can be taken from gangs occurring. The main approach with moving into the schools is not only linked to the behaviour of youth groups, but is also focused on youth that are using an anti-social behaviour in the schools. Research has shown that this is directly linked to youth who are in gangs and that move into street life activities. The anti-social behaviour is moving into various areas to help disperse gangs. For instance, one shop has changed their music from hip hop to classical. When this is played, the gangs will disperse, with the desire to not show this social side, as it is not associated with gang activities. The hope is that, the more this is done, the more the gangs will disperse from different areas since the gang activity is related to social concepts (BBC, 2008). This is being furthered into ways to reconstruct the difficulties that are arising from gangs. The only way in which this can be done is to target on the cultural areas and aspects that are being hindered from gang activities. Those who are growing up in demographic areas where gang activity is high are being given alternative opportunities for change. This is being done through prevention programs for younger children, as well as youth that are not involved in gangs. It has been found that younger children will emulate their older siblings that are in the gangs, causing for more difficulties with the activities. The government is working on bringing community activities, re-development of communities, education and training to help with the youth activities. By developing these, it is the hope that the children and youth that are in the area can have more opportunities and understanding of the violence and what it causes (Wilson, 2000). A different type of threat that is occurring in the UK and London area is related to the environmental problems that are a rising problem through different areas. It is now being shown that the climate changes in the UK, and especially in city areas, such as London, are impacting the health of individuals in the area. This includes everything from air, water and food safety, as well as changes in the climate. This also includes wind storms, floods and droughts that are beginning to arise in the area, all which are impacting the overall health and security of individuals. Most of these are known as natural disasters and threats; however, some are also recognized as man made threats, coming from environmental problems such as pollution. It is now being found that these alterations in climate and environment is causing problems such as disease, allergies, and sometimes resulting in death. The attention that has been brought to the environmental threats has caused for several to begin moving forward with altering the climate and taking action on pollutants and other problems. Because of the changes in health from individuals, several legislative acts have been put in place to reserve the environmental problems. This includes acts from the Department of Health, the Health Protection Agency and the Chartered Institute for Environmental Health. With the concerns for environmental changes and alterations through pollution, is a move to protect individuals from the problems through scientific findings, research and monitoring of the environment. This combination of ideals is being used to transform the environmental hazards that are occurring in the area (Kovats, Sari, 2008). The disaster management that is being focused on for environmental solutions for the different areas of concern, both with pollutions and changes in the climate. This begins with specific programs that are being developed by scientists, researchers and environmentalists. With these different areas, the focus is to provide new information on what is occurring in the environment, why it has occurred and what can be done to begin altering the way that the environment is affecting the health of individuals. This step forward with education is a simple way to make individuals more cognizant of the situation that is at hand, combined with the capability of combining a different understanding of how to work more carefully with the environment (Coventry, 2008). The research that is being developed is then being combined with environmental understandings of how to begin prevention of the pollutions that are moving into the environment, as well as ways to begin changing the effects that are occurring in the environment. This is combined with businesses that are offering supplies as well as information on the supplies and how they will change the environmental factors. For instance, for air pollution, options for better driving, such as car pooling, taking subways or adding in different components to cars is being added in. This helps to offer prevention of further pollution and is also providing a way for disaster management to occur from the changes in the environment (IDS Environment, 2008). The legislation that is being combined with the research and businesses is linked to legally binding provisions that are a part of the environment. This is mostly available through acts being passed through the Office of Public Sector Information. For instance, for air pollution, regulations have been passed on the amount of specific chemicals and substances that can be used in the area. This is known as the Ozone Depleting Substances Regulations. These are passed yearly, in relation to the research and education that is taking place. This is combined with things such as waste management and regulations that are designed to control the amount of waste that is moving into the environment. Alternatives for waste and pollution are also given, such as recycling programs and other regulations that are needed for businesses that manufacture different compounds. This includes options such as organic compounds and substances that are being made mandatory for better use in the environment (NetRegs, 2008). These legislative acts are combined with future legislations that will allow communities to slowly transition from current ways of living to newer and more environmentally friendly ways of taking care of the environment and of using alternative substances. This is then being combined with reconstruction strategies that are a part of the environment. This is being built through working with businesses, the government and individuals to begin changing the climate problems, as well as the pollution problems that are in the environment. This is being done through a focus on resource efficiency that is being used in the area. Through this, it is expected to reduce things such as carbon emissions and other air pollutants by up to 60% by 2025. This is being combined with new tools, inventions and ways to use different products. These are being combined with organic substances that are allowing businesses to keep a reduced cost of manufacturing items, as well as more environmental friendly materials to assist in reducing the climate change, as well as with the ability to stop the environment from continuing to deteriorate (Envirowise, 2008). These different catastrophes, lessons learned from the socio-economic, environmental and international relations, as well as responses from the government, legislation and community all work together to help prevent future problems, as well as to alter what is being done. The two parts to these different types of catastrophes are based on recovery from the disaster, as well as prevention to stop the problems from continuing to occur. It is from these two areas that legislation begins to work towards finding solutions and allows individuals to find alternatives towards both man made and natural disasters. With different forms of threats, catastrophes and accidents that occur, are several levels to implement solutions from the problems. This includes the ability to recognise the problem that is at hand. This is combined with classification systems that further define the events that are taking place. After this, legislation is able to take the correct moves through prevention, education, recovery and building alternative systems to help individuals who are suffering from the catastrophe. By combining recovery with future prevention, the government, businesses and the community are then able to find better alternatives towards the disasters and prevention from the accidents that have occurred. References 1. BBC. (2008). Police Target Youth Gang Disorder. BBC News. Retrieved from: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/scotland/glasgow_and_west/5410962.stm. 2. CBC. (2000). Bomb Threat Derail London Commuters. CBC. Retrieved from: http://www.cbc.ca/world/story/2000/07/19/subway_bombs000719.html. 3. Coventry University. (2008). Department of Geography, Environment and Disaster Management. Retrieved from: http://www.coventry.ac.uk/cu/bes/gedm. 4. Envirowise. (2008). Sustainable Practices, Sustainable Profits. Retrieved from: http://www.envirowise.gov.uk/england/Envirowise-in-England/London.html. 5. Fresco, Adam. (2008). Teenage Knife Crime 'Is One of Biggest Threats to London.' The Times. Retrieved from: http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/crime/article3640626.ece. 6. IDS Environment. (2008). Environmental Disaster Management. Retrieved from: http://www.ids-environment.com/environment/europe/environmental_disaster_management/13/category_directory.html. 7. Kovats, Sari. (2008). Climate Change and Human Health: Current Impacts and Future Threats. Institute of Biology, London. Retrieved from: http://74.125.95.104/search?q=cache:ZtinfwDtPLsJ:www.iob.org/userfiles/IOBKovatsmayv2webversion.ppt+current+threats+in+London&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=24&gl=us. 8. McGlown, Joanne. (2004). “Terrorism and Disaster Management: Preparing Healthcare Leaders for the New Reality.” ACHE: Health Administration Press. 9. Mitchell, Thomas. (2008). The Roles of Children and Youth in Communicating Disaster Risk. University of Sussex. Retrieved from: http://74.125.95.104/search?q=cache:myc-TB38VP8J:www.colorado.edu/journals/cye/18_1/18_1_09_CommunicatingRisk.pdf+UK+disaster+management+for+youth+gangs&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=2&gl=us. 10. Mussulman, Laura, Deborah White. (2004). The Human Factor Analysis and Classification System (HFACS). Naval Safety Center. Retrieved from: http://www.safetycenter.navy.mil/MEDIA/approach/issues/julaug04/HumanFactors.htm. 11. NetRegs. (2008). Legislations. Retrieved from: http://www.netregs.gov.uk/netregs/legislation/287972/652894/?version=1&lang=_e 12. Provitolo, Damienne. (2007). A Proposition for a Classification Of the Catastrophe Systems Based on Complexity Criteria. University of France. Retrieved from: http://74.125.95.104/search?q=cache:dvXsHlHyV2gJ:litis.univ-lehavre.fr/~bertelle/epnacs2007-proceedings/provitolo4epnacs07.pdf+classification+system+for+catastrophe&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=8&gl=us. 13. Security Service M15. (2008). Threats and Security Service in the UK. Retrieved from: http://www.mi5.gov.uk/. 14. TSO. (2006). Countering International Terrorism: The United Kingdom's Strategy. Retrieved from: http://74.125.95.104/search?q=cache:3bR0fun0MusJ:www.fco.gov.uk/resources/en/pdf/contest-report+UK+reconstruction+strategies+for+terrorism&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=1&gl=us. 15. Wilkinson, Paul. (2002). Domestic Management of Terrorist Attacks. Gazette News. Retrieved from: http://calvin.st-andrews.ac.uk/external_relations/news_article.cfm?reference=324. 16. Wilson, John. (2000). Youth Gang Programs and Strategies. Office of Justice Programs. Retrieved from: http://74.125.95.104/search?q=cache:Ici7TNtnr_cJ:www.ncjrs.gov/pdffiles1/ojjdp/171154.pdf+UK+reconstruction+for+youth+gangs&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=1&gl=us. Read More