Components of Emergency Planning of the Buncefield Incident - Case Study Example

Incident Command Buncefield Incident 2005 20th February 20010 Student The unfortunate incident of Buncefield that occurred on 11 December 2005 was a loud alarm for the emergency planners and disaster managers under the civil contingencies act of 2004 in UK. This report sets out the major components of emergency planning and appropriately deals with their requirements in view of the Buncefield incident that also put ablaze 23 large storage tanks (www.buncefieldinvestigation.gov.uk). The scope of report includes the reasons that why an effective command system is required to deal with such a large scale and massive incident like Buncefield, the level of commands needed in order to cope up with such situations like the one occurred at Buncefield, an effective plan and a multi-dimensional risk assessment, roles played by various agencies involved in Buncefield, the requirement to have and effective communication with the media and other involved agencies and the ways and channels through which the information was projected to agencies during the Buncefield incidence. Reasons for an effective command system to deal with such incident The incident command is the working name of an operational command structure during and after the happening of major incidents like Buncefield incident. The competent authority for Buncefield incident was the control of major accident hazard regulations [COMAH, comprises upon health and safety executives from environment agency in England, Wales and Scotland (1999 ISBN978071716954).The Buncefield incident has been unfortunately a major test for the contingency planners and for the new and a fresh arrangement introduced at not less than the national level under civil contingencies act 2004 which were implemented in September 2005 the effective and very impressive emergency response which was witnessed during the Buncefield incident actually relied on the excellent working relationships that were dealing with the incident but they have never foreseen such a big incident and therefore they had not planned for that. Although the performance of the primary responders was outstanding however the larger public health implications could have not been ruled out. There were many organizations who immediately responded to the Buncefield incident. The local community also showed a great resilience and social life came back to normality with the help of recovery efforts. However the following is submitted in regard to the questions posed at the beginning of this report. Operators of the Buncefield oil sites should have thoroughly reviewed all of their contingency and emergency arrangements so, that they could have reasonably foreseen emergency scenario of major incidents like Buncefield oil field (cabinet office 2004). This should have already included the dangers like explosions of vapor clouds and concentric multi tank fire container. The competent authority should have been made responsible for this over site and lacunae. In this way the proper risk assessment for the major incidents like Buncefield could have been carried out successfully. The level of commands needed in order to cope up with such situations like the one occurred at Buncefield, As for as managing command of the major incidents very well onsite like Buncefield is concerned it has been observed that the competent authority should have reviewed the existent guidance under COMAH on emergency planning and preparedness the hazard installations directorates and the manual of chemical industries division needs to be consulted for quality on site planning in his connection health advisors and emergency responders need to work together for the incident like Buncefield the operators are required to clearly make out there plans in consultation with all the stake holders (fire HPA 2006). The training of the staff to competently execute the plans needed to be revisited and it had to be insured that enough and well trained staff have always been alert and sufficiently available to ward off any emergency needs. An effective Plan and a Multi-dimensional Risk Assessment, An effective plan and a multi-dimensional risk assessment required to see whether the emergency control centers were in a good operating form, whether the fire fighting pumps, the manual switches, the lagoons, and the remedial actions were all in fit condition. It was utmost necessary that the operators should have timely identified the vulnerable emergency resources and the control rooms were not checked with duplicate plans. Actually the Buncefield incident had far acceded in damages than it was supposed for the single tank fire. It was sadly noted afterwards that the two pump houses located at the site and their associated lagoons in the north and North West side had already lost their age. And they were rendered unserviceable. It was badly felt the top tear management was required under the law to have prepared emergency plans with the aim to deal with the onsite consequences to ward off possible incidences and to prepare and provide the local authorities with all the relevant information. This information was, of course badly needed before the vapor cloud explosions happened at the Buncefield. The COMAH authorities are also responsible for replicating the technical information to the public regarding onsite operations, so that the fire and rescue service can respond effectively and well in time. They are supposed to clearly demonstrate that there are already present adequate arrangements and this is also the basic responsibility of the competent authority to see that everything is up to date. Role of Agencies The civil contingencies act 2004, applies to whole of the United Kingdom. The above civil contingencies act 2004 is further supported by the regulations of various parliaments. In case the Buncefield incident 2005 the following major agencies which are already empowered to design, operate and manage the emergency planning preparedness and respond to the incident including advice to the planning authorities and recovering from the incidents(Nial Rasmussen report, review of Buncefield TOR lessons learnt, Oct 2006). The detailed examination of the roles and responsibilities of these agencies is given as below. The following departments were responsible for prevention, management and aftermath recovery of the incident. 1-Local Government Association Since the local governments are represented by the peoples of the communities and they are voted to power by the people, they are under the civil contingencies act empowered to enact and make regulations for the safety of the communities and their protection from any health hazards etc. the regulations made by the local governments are binding on all the residents of the area, the local businesses, factories and the installations like the oil fields etc. since, the local governments are responsible to their people therefore, they are bound to keep the health, life and properties of the people intact and in sound position. 2-Chief Police Officers There is an association of the chief police officers of the towns and cities which is responsible for the joint security insurance of all the areas that they administer. It is not only the criminal activities which comes under their purview but the safety of health, life and property of all the people under their command is the need and responsibility of the police department in all the counties and towns in case of Buncefield incidence, the chief police officers were certainly responsible for making sure that the least minimum damage to the life and property of the people is done in the consequence of fire explosions (Emergency response and recovery, non-statutory guidance HM government crown copy right 2005). The chief police officers were also responsible for making sure that during and after the incident no panic or untoward circumstances prevail amongst the residents which may be detrimental to the life and property of people and law and order of the area. 3-Chief Fire Officers As the name suggests the association of chief fire officers is certainly responsible for saving and making arrangements for emergency planning and disaster management in case of any fire incident in the areas where they operate. In case of Buncefield since, the whole area and the operations at the oil fields were inflammable and the circumstances remained vulnerable so, the basic responsibility of emergency planning and disaster preparedness lies on the shoulders of fire fighters association during and after the incidence. 4-Ambulance Services Association The ambulance service and the public health care are naturally responsible for evacuation and safe transportation of the victims out of the disaster scenario. Their quick and swift service can save a lot of lives from death and injury. In the Buncefield incident the role of ambulance service association was prominent (civil contingencies secretariat 2004). But, it is still believed that the enough number of ambulances which are beyond any doubt of breakage and are readily available with fresh and alert drivers is the basic requirement to mitigate the effects of disasters especially the major incidents like the Buncefield in 2005. 5- Regional Development Agency These agencies are responsible for the development of infrastructure like roads, railway networks, postal, banks, schools, colleges, and recreational activities etc. the role of these agencies come to fore prominently in the aftermath of disaster incidences like the major once that occurred in 2005 in Buncefield. The association of these agencies commonly and collectively puts forth all the relevant plans and projects and also finds the avenues of funding from different donor agencies. 6- British Insurance Companies The insurance companies, as the name suggests are responsible for giving financial coverage to the risks involved so that the people and businesses may continue with confidence without any fear of loss. In case of major incidents like the one that happened in 2005 in Buncefield required a lot of finances for coverage of the losses that occurred in the shape of Buncefield incidence. The associations of insurance companies, in case of their financial loss get their finances from the reinsurance companies and make their losses good. 7- Chamber of Commerce and Industry In the case of major incidents the members of chamber of commerce and industry not only pool up their resources but also help in rebuilding the businesses and industries in the wake of losses that accrued to the enterprises in the case of fire, earthquake, flood, disaster etc (www.hertsdirect.org). Therefore, the role of chamber of commerce and industry is like the life blood during and after the major incident like the one unfortunate that happened in 2005 in Buncefield. 8- Health and Safety Services These services are as much important as any other agency. But, in a larger way the health and emergency services get precedence and supremacy on others because these services are directly related with the health and life of the people that needs to be saved in the first instance than any other activity to be taken. The well trained doctors, nurses and paramedical staff with sufficient medical aids like medicines, tools and equipments and their availability in the emergencies sections of hospitals and basic health units is very necessary (Bedford shire ambulance service 2006). In case of any major incident like Buncefield these services are the frontline defense against any human injury or loss. Effective Liaison with the Media Proper communications with the local community is extremely significant to instill confidence into the public and ensure them that the site is working very well and the arrangements for the emergency are not only reliable but also realistic. As per COMAH regulation number 14 every operator of an organization is required to assure the public through liaison with the media that the safety measures of the establishment are sound and in case of any incidence what are the emergency arrangements. It is very necessary that within a span of every five years the local communities and the governments are very well assured about all the emergency arrangements. The same arrangements have to be reviewed and they again need to be made public through liaison with media. The population where it is transient it is more important to keep them informed through a media person or media cell established within the organization (met office 2006). It is necessary the joint communications with local authorities and local communities through press statements, interviews, radio, TV ads, electronic or paper channels may be made periodically. The complaints received by the general public also need to be responded on priority. So, it is an integrated process that is needed to be made public by the emergency preparedness guidance regarding communication with public. So, it is desired that the operators at the Buncefield should have reviewed their arrangements to communicate with the local residents, the local enterprises and all the other communities so as to ensure the frequency of communication on periodic basis. The COMAH guidance requires all the above actions to be taken into letters and spirit. It is utmost necessary that the media office of the facility at the Buncefield should take care of the above basic arrangements. Conclusion It is concluded that if the above mentioned measures would have been taken right in time the damages accruing from the Buncefield incident might have been warded off. The incident damaged and ruined 23 large storage tanks and almost 43 people were injured. But, it was fortunate that no causalities were reported. But the Buncefield incident rendered a serious damage to the private, public and commercial property. Many people were displaced and around 2000 people were evacuated from their houses. The fire continued to last for the five days and rendered serious damage to the property and site as well. If the measures as stated above in the reported would have been implemented the damage rendered to the people and property would have been less. 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