An Effective Incident Command System for Large Scale Incidents such as Buncefield - Case Study Example

Introduction The twenty first century has been characterized by various explosions. This has definitely been increased by the misuse of improved technology across the globe. This paper therefore looks at an explosion that occurred in Buncefield site that later resulted in a fire outbreak. This report explains the reasons as to why an effective incident command system for large scale incidents such as Buncefield needs to be established. It also illustrates the various levels of command that are needed to deal effectively with large scale incidents. (Haddow and Bullock, 2003) There is then a discussion on an appropriate dynamic risk assessment and action plan that would have been implemented at the scene. The paper also evaluates the need for an effective liaison with media and other agencies during major incidents. Finally, the paper discusses how information would have been communicated and managed during the incident. There is also the analysis of the prudent decision that would have been taken during the incident. (Heide, 2006) Reasons for an effective incident command system Research clearly shows that an effective incident command system is very essential in such incidences such as Buncefield explosion. An incident command system usually has a standard hierarchy of management of various incidences. A command system mostly consists of personnel that are very well trained to handle fire outbreaks or incidences. There are various reasons for putting in place an effective incident command system in such a case as Buncefield. (NFPA, 2004) One of the reasons is the fact that an effective incident command system will help to control the funds that are used during the incident. This is considering the fact that such incidences can end up using more funds than necessary if they are poorly managed. An incident command system therefore helps in putting in place a central mechanism where funds can easily be controlled. It is quite essential to note that such disasters involve so many people. These include the injured, onlookers, rescuers and various personnel that are involved in managing the whole incidence. (Haddow and Bullock, 2003) An effective incidence command system helps in managing all the personnel that are involved to ensure that there is no overlapping of duties and even clashing among the people. It also gives an avenue of a common structure of management of various agencies and personnel involved in the incident. Through the use of an effective incident command system, there is the management of various facilities and equipment at the scene. This includes management of the equipment used in the rescue process and even in managing other facilities such as healthcare facilities. (Heide, 2006) Another reason for having an effective incident command system is that it helps in providing the administrative support that is usually needed by the operational staffs from various agencies. This also includes providing all the logistical support that is needed by all the stakeholders at the fire incident. It is also quite evident that an effective incident command system helps in providing an authorized, legitimate and unified organization. This gives the stakeholders the confidence to carry out their various duties effectively without the fear of being at crossroads with the laws and regulations of the land. Levels of command An overall analysis of the Buncefield incident shows that there are various levels of command that are needed to deal with cases of such magnitude. In this case, there is need for a reliable and workable structure to be implemented in order to manage the incident effectively. Disasters of such magnitude need a multi level type of command structure. In this case, such a structure consists of the central government at the top level that overrules or coordinates all the other levels of the command structure. (O'Neill, 2008) After this level, there are other departments within the government which work in conjunction with the lead department. The lead department has the responsibility of carrying out the coordination of all the personnel that are involved in managing such an incident. As illustrated earlier, the lead department is assisted or supported by other departments within the government. (Haddow and Bullock, 2003) Next is the committee of regional contingencies that that is directly answerable to the lead department. The committee of regional contingencies is then followed by the local groups that are responsible for carrying out overall coordination of the incident that is strategic in nature. This is then followed by the three essential levels; strategic gold level, tactical silver level and then the operational bronze level. (O'Neill, 2008) In order to deal effectively with such an incident, the government’s cabinet office and the office of the prime minister have to ensure that they choose a relevant lead department. This is one that is equipped in terms of human resource and one that has the experience to handle disasters of such magnitude. In this case, the lead department should be in a position to coordinate all the other personnel involved in the case. (Heide, 2006) The cabinet office briefing rooms (COBR) would then lead department the necessary support required. Through the help of the prime minister, a senior minister can be appointed to manage the activities of the cabinet office briefing rooms. The Home secretary should then be given the responsibility of leading the civil committee in the contingencies. This level of the incident command structure would then need the prime minister to harness all the required human and material resources that would be needed in the operation. (NFPA, 2004) The regional civil contingencies would then take the responsibility of supporting and coordinating all the local agencies that are involved in managing such an incident. The agencies include the local strategic coordinating groups. These strategic coordinating groups would then coordinate the activities carried out by the strategic gold commander. The strategic gold level would then formulate a strategy of dealing with the incident. This level also controls the resources that are used in the fire incident or disaster. This is then followed by the tactical silver level. It entails a tactical commander who carries out the overall management of the strategic proposals from the strategic gold level. It is quite essential to note that both the strategic gold level and tactical silver level personnel are usually not located at the scene. The tactical silver level would then oversee all the activities of the operational bronze level. This is the last level that is usually in charge of actual implementation of laid down strategies. (O'Neill, 2008) Dynamic risk assessment and action plan Risk assessment of such an incident would entail analysis of various factors. This includes analysing activities that would have resulted in such an explosion, the injuries incurred and the number of people affected. It would be important to assess the likelihood of the occurrence of such an incident at the same site or in another similar site. In such a situation, there would be need to structure a dynamic risk assessment of the entire situation at Buncefield site. It would be necessary to assess the risks and hazards that are present at Buncefield site. First of all there would be the need to asses the risk of the explosion in relation to human life. (Heide, 2006) There would also be the need to asses whether the explosion would result in more risks for the neighbouring areas. This would help to know how the people neighbouring the depot would be affected. This is very important as it would help to put in place necessary plans or precautionary measures. It would also call for assessing whether there would be other chances of more explosions at the Buncefield site. (Wisner, 2009) It would also be very essential to asses the risk of loss of lives on the already injured people. Other aspects that would be very essential to evaluate include the risk of air pollution and effects of the pollution on the ecosystem due to smoke emitted into the environment. It would be very essential to evaluate the risk of pollution of water system and water bodies around the depot. (Haddow and Bullock, 2003) Action plan The first action plan would be to publicise the information in the media. The action plan in such a situation would also entail ensuring that further harm is avoided. This is by communicating in good time to the public about the explosion so that they avoid the affected area. After risk assessment, proper plans such as healthcare services would be put in place at the scene to take care of the injured and avoid further harm. (NFPA, 2004) This would ensure that none of the injured people succumb to death. In case of the risk of further explosions, professionals handling such cases would be quickly deployed to the scene. Other actions would include putting in place detoxifying agents in the air to avoid further health problems emanating from air pollution. The risk assessment report would help to put in place the category one responders of fire incidences. Roles and responsibilities of various public agencies There are various public agencies that would be involved in an incident of Buncefield site. They include; emergency services, NHS and local authorities. Under the emergency services is ambulance, police, British transport police and fire and rescue team. The NHS has hospital trusts that play an essential role and primary care trusts. Finally, the local authority consists of unitary authorities, borough councils and county councils. Other agencies include environment and health protection agency. The environment agency would give relevant advice on how to mitigate the effects of smoke released into the air from the explosion. (Heide, 2006) In this case, the emergency services that would be involved would include the police and ambulance services which would be among the first agencies to respond to the Buncefield scene. The police would be the first to arrive scene. Their role would be to carry out investigations to know the exact cause of the explosion. Another role of the police would be to ensure that the public is protected from any further injury or harm resulting from the explosion. It would be the role of the police to ensure that the public does not get close to the affected area. In this case, the fire and rescue team would be responsible for rescuing people who could be trapped in the residential and commercial buildings that were affected by the fire. (NFPA, 2004) Their responsibility would also entail getting the injured to safety to avoid any further injuries. Their role would also entail searching for any people who could be trapped in the residential and commercial buildings. It would also be the responsibility of the fire and rescue team to offer advice to the entire public on safe areas and even warn on areas that may easily be affected by the explosion. (O'Neill, 2008) There would also be the NHS agencies that that would be involved in the Buncefield incident. These consist of ambulance services among others. Their role would be to offer first aid services to the injured people. They would also help in transporting the injured to hospitals for further examination. The medical personnel would easily be transported to the scene to handle casualties from there. The county council would help rescue team access neighbouring buildings via safe routes and give information concerning nearby facilities. (Heide, 2006) Liaison with media and other agencies during major incidents The media plays an essential role when it comes to covering such incidences as the Buncefield explosion. It would be very important that there be liaison with media and other agencies. It is however very essential for all media representatives to be controlled. This is such that they don’t get in the way of the rescuers and also to avoid their injuries. All the media representatives would have one area where they would easily liaise with all the other stakeholders that would be involved in the incidence. In this case, it would be very important to have a liaison point where it would be very easy to coordinate all the activities. It would also be very essential to put up a media centre where all the briefing would take place. This would help to avoid controversial information being released to the public. It is very essential that a public relations manager be put in place to oversee all the activities of all media representatives and the other agencies. (Wisner, 2009) Communication Communication is a very essential aspect when it comes to management of disasters such as Buncefield explosion. There are various ways or channels through which information would have been communicated and managed in the Buncefield site explosion. The first communication that would be necessary to make would be to warn the public concerning the explosion. This usually has to be done immediately the incident occurs to avoid any further injuries. An analysis of the Buncefield incident shows that neighbouring areas were also affected. It would be important the neighbouring areas get the fast communication of warning then followed by other distant regions and finally the entire nation. In this case, such a warning should advise the neighbouring residents on safe areas. (O'Neill, 2008) The communication in this case would be carried out by using media that will reach a wide population. This should be a media that uses up to date technology such that the information reaches the public within the shortest time possible. A communication centre would be put up at the scene to ensure that all the information that gets to the public is verified and true. This helps to avoid controversial information being dispatched to the public. There should be communication channels at the scene should also allow the public to easily call and confirm information concerning the incident. It would be essential to open a website and email address where the public could easily enquire and even get information on the occurrence. The information that would be dispatched should not create panic but ensure that the public is reassured of measures taken to handle the situation effectively. (Haddow and Bullock, 2003) Prudent decision that would have been made The prudent decision that would have been made in such a case is to have an official press statement. This should be carried out by relevant officials in the cabinet office. The press statement should clearly illustrate the date and time that the incident occurred. This also includes the information on the exact place that the explosion took place and the cause of the explosion. (NFPA, 2004) It would be essential to inform the public on the official number of people who were injured in the process. The press statement should have information on measures that were taken to handle the situation. This includes information on various agencies that are handling the situation. These include high profile security personnel, highly qualified doctors, nurses, experienced and equipped fire rescuers. It should also give relevant advice to the public to keep off the affected area. The press statement should inform the public of contacts that they can call to make inquiries. It should also include a website where the public can easily access to get more information on the issue. (Wisner, 2009) Conclusion Occurrence of disaster such as Buncefield should have an effective incident command system. This would help to manage the entire situation. A multi-level type of command structure would be necessary. It would also call for dynamic risk assessment and workable action plan. Various public agencies such as emergency services, NHS and local authorities would be needed. It would call for liaison with media and other agencies. Communication would be essential in ensuring that the public is adequately warned and informed on the issue. The prudent decision that would have been made would be to issue a press statement on Buncefield case. Reference: Haddow, G. and Bullock, J. (2003): Introduction to Emergency Management; Amsterdam: Butterworth-Heinemann Heide, E. (2006): The importance of evidence-based disaster planning; Ann Emerg Med; 47:34-49 NFPA 921(2004): Guide for Fire and Explosion Investigations; National Fire Protection Association O'Neill, B. (2008): A Model Assessment Tool for the Incident Command System; A Case Study of the San Antonio Fire Department; Applied Research Projects Texas State University Wisner, B. (2009): Arrangements for Responding to Emergencies, Health and Safety Executive: retrieved from; www.hse.gov.uk; accessed on 18th February 2010 Read More