Incident Command Issues - Essay Example

Incident command INCIDENT COMMAND GRACE SARKAR Order No. 406412 22 February Table of Contents Introduction 3 Why is ICS needed for Buncefield depot 3 Various levels of command 5 Appropriate dynamic risk assessment 7 Identify and evaluate roles and responsibilities 8 Evaluate the need for effective liaison 11 Conclusion 12 Sources 14 INCIDENT COMMAND Introduction The series of explosions and subsequent fire that caused widespread damage at the Buncefield oil storage and transfer depot, Hemel Hempstead, on 11 December 2005 conspicuously reveals the need for an incident command system (ICS) to be in place in the depot. It is surprising that an ICS was not in place at the time the explosions occurred. Details about the actual size of the depot are not available although there is the information that "a large fire engulfed 23 large fuel storage tanks over a high proportion of Buncefield site" (Assignment Brief). Also, fire that followed the explosion lasted five days and razed most of the site "emitting a large plume of smoke into the atmosphere that dispersed over South England and beyond" (Assignment Brief). Hence, the available information provides enough evidence to prove that it was a major incident in a large area and it was sheer providence that only 43 people were injured and none of them seriously although 2000 people had to be evacuated from the location of the fire to safer places (Assignment Brief). Why is ICS needed for Buncefield depot The need for ICS at the Buncefield depot cannot be overstated. The devastating effects of not having ICS were already felt at the depot in 2005 when a series of explosions ripped through the depot. It is therefore primarily important to have an ICS in place at the Buncefield depot. Having a relevant ICS will help limit damages arising from situation like the one that occurred in 2005. Indeed, it must be made statutorily compulsory for organizations such as the Buncefield oil storage and transfer depot to keep in place an ICS (Freeman, John; 2006). The ICS is time tested to effectively avert and counter disasters that could otherwise lead to destruction to lives and properties on a mass scale. It is a state-of-the-art system designed to cater to a particular industry taking into consideration the known threats and risks to the industry and their updated technological solutions (Incident Command System (ICS) Overview). Oil is a highly inflammable and powerful substance that can cause lot of damages if not stored in foolproof, fireproof, and impregnable containers. Even after they are stored in the safest and most secure zones one must take extra precautions to ensure nothing of relevance to safety and security is left to chance. Even after taking all precautions, there must be a system in place to minimize destruction should any mishap occur (Freeman, John; 2006). The ICS becomes necessary because of the inflammable and volatile nature of the substance stored in large quantities. Even a small spark could lead to widespread damages in such situations. Apart from the mandatory warning signs, there is the need to constantly monitor the area in such a manner that not even a square inch is left unnoticed at any point of time. By and large, the ICS is specifically designed for a particular industry and its location taking into consideration various factors such as the nature of the industry, its size, the destructive nature of the substance dealt with by the company, the damages the substance is capable of causing, and the answers to these problems. The ICS cannot be applied uniformly to all industries as a one-solution-for-all system. The ICS functions under various disciplines such as the firefighters, environmental organizations, wildlife agencies, health organizations, various governmental functions such as the federal, state, tribal and local bodies, etc (Incident Command System (a), 2007). Various levels of command needed to deal effectively with large scale incidents such as the Buncefield incident Organizations like the Buncefield oil storage and transfer depot requires an ICS complete in all respects and possessing updated technologies in fire fighting and trouble shooting. Under this ICS, there are the Incident Commander, the Safety and Liaison Officers, and the Public Information Officer (PIO). The Incident Commander is the boss of the entire ICS department with the Safety and Liaison Officers and the PIO under him. The functions of operations, logistics, planning, administration and finance fall under the joint supervision of the Safety ad Liaison Officers and the PIO. Looking at the extensive damages caused due to the explosion on 11 December 2005, it is only wise to keep in place a complete ICS department with its Incident Commander, Safety and Liaison Officers, Public Information Officer (PIO) and other functionaries like operations, logistics, planning, administration and control. The chart of the command is given below: (Figure 1 - Incident Command Systems (b), 2003, p12) The Incident Commander must be given sufficient powers to decide on the manpower for his department. For instance, there will be more staff needed for functions such as planning and operations. Greater vigilance is required for Bencefield. Hence, there is the need for more staff to physically plan and monitor the security of all the areas and components in Bencefield by planning and operations. However, logistics, administration and finance may not require too many personnel. There may be comparatively fewer personnel required for logistics, administration and finance in ICS and these may be integrated with the central administrative office of Bencefield. However, ICS is a flexible department. This means, if situation warrants, it may become necessary to SOS for outside help. The ICS at Buncefield must waste no time in calling for outside help should that become even remotely necessary. The state firefighters, environmental departments and hazardous waste agencies must be called in for consultation and even actively involved to contain any untoward situation (About ICS/UC and the NRS). Appropriate dynamic risk assessment From the available information, it is clear that the personnel around the scene of explosion at the Buncefield depot bolted albeit with minor injuries. This explains the providential escape for all the management and staff manning the premises at the time the explosion occurred (Assignment Brief). Of course, the entire unfortunate episode could have been averted had an appropriate ICS been in place. The disaster was man-made and caused due to some oversight or careless act, perhaps of somebody throwing away a lighted cigarette. The reason for the explosion is not provided. But it is obvious that it was due to some carelessness or oversight. Perhaps there was a short circuit that attracted the explosions. Whatever the reason, it is necessary to know the reason and ensure it is disabled before it assumes disastrous proportions. Thus, it is part of the depot's business to daily and constantly keep an open eye for disasters. This essentially means manning and electronic surveillance of every nook and corner of the depot's region. The entire region must be kept under the watchful eyes of a surveillance unit that is responsible for scooping and scrutinizing every suspicious piece of action emanating from any source within the boundaries of the depot. Once any strange activity is notices, the system should be capable of diagnosing and disabling it. This means if there is a spark of fire it must be summarily extinguished before it causes destruction. If there is short circuit, the electrical supply to that particular spot must be automatically turned off and the resultant fire extinguished before it reaches the spot of large-scale damage, that it before it comes in contact with inflammable oil. It is also necessary to regularly check the installations including the wiring as a matter of routine. Mishaps also happen when it is taken for granted that everything with the installations is all right. Accidents do not happen. They are caused due to carelessness. The inner layer of the container touching oil must be kept insulated against every inflammable and contaminating object. Oil may not be explosive but it has tremendous potential for explosion. It is therefore wise to treat it with as much respect as any explosive. The containers housing oil must be well spaced from each other so that fire from one container does not reach another container in its vicinity. The main explosion that took place at Buncefield "at 06.01:32 hours on 11 December 2005 swiftly engulfed 23 large fuel storage tanks over a high proportion of the Buncefield site". (Assignment Brief) It does appear that the macro as well as micro logistics at the Buncefield site was not properly managed. The ICS must be kept on the panel for the restructure of the depot in order to develop a foolproof plan for site reconstruction from a scratch. An effective action plan for risk assessment begins with prevention of influences that cause destruction. Identify and evaluate roles and responsibilities of various public agencies First of all, there is the National Response System (NRS) under the U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Safety & Health Administration. "Managing a major response - especially a complex, multi-jurisdictional response - is one of the most important challenges facing the National Response System. Effective coordination among local, state, and federal responders at the scene of a response is a key factor in ensuring successful responses to major incidents. An Incident Command System/Unified Command (ICS/UC) is an efficient on-site tool to manage all emergency response incidents, and UC is a necessary tool for managing multi-jurisdictional responses to oil spills or hazardous substance releases. Understanding the concepts of ICS/UC is as important for local responders, who generally arrives on-scene first and thus are most likely to implement the management system, as it is for state and federal organizations that may be joining the ICS/UC" (About ICS/UC and the NRS). Getting the U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Safety & Health Administration on the scene of mishap may not be healthy news for the Incident Commander who might have to share authority and information that has hitherto been vested under him. Nevertheless, since Buncefield does not have an ICS in place, they have no choice but get help from NRS. Even after getting an ICS, Buncefield must maintain close links with the U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Safety & Health Administration. This department has vast resources to handle emergency situations. "Initially, the Incident Commander may not fill all Command and General Staff functions. As an incident becomes more complex, however, the organization also can expand to include Sections, Branches, Divisions, Groups, and units. Expansion takes place functionally and at levels that the Incident Commander determines are necessary. Additional layers may be added to the organization to reflect the changing needs of the incident and to maintain an effective span of control. As incident activities wind down, the Incident Commander will determine that some personnel and equipment are no longer required and will demobilize them. Again, the organization will contract functionally as determined by the current needs of the incident. Each worker in the system (including the commander) should be not be involved in the incident longer than 12 hours without some "down time"" (Incident Command Systems (b), 2003). There are also other departments such as the U.S. Fire Administration (USFA) and the National Wildfire Coordination Group (NWCG). These agencies are actively involved in organizing structures to meet every known eventuality. They are capable of handling any major mishap of the type that occurred at Buncefield (Incident Command System (ICS) Overview). "When an incident requires response from multiple local emergency management and response agencies, effective cross-jurisdictional coordination using common processes and systems is critical. The Incident Command System provides a flexible, yet standardized core mechanism for coordinated and collaborative incident management, whether for incidents where additional resources are required or are provided from different organizations within a single jurisdiction or outside the jurisdiction, or for complex incidents with national implications" (Incident Command System (ICS) Overview). The Buncefield oil storage and transfer depot must tie up agencies such as the ones mentioned above and constantly interacting with them. Prevention of major accidents happen by constantly working away with agencies seized up with the issue of prevention and facing hazardous mishaps head-on. Evaluate the need for effective liaison with media and other agencies during major incidents Last but not the least, the function of the Public Information Officer is crucial for the purpose of handling media and dissemination of information comprising the latest position and future expectations. The PIO is the responsible spokesman for the organization facing the crisis. The PIO is also physically far removed from ground zero. His work is to get hold of the latest information from authoritative sources and disseminate it to the press and the public. The role of the PIO becomes critical in times of crisis because the anxious public depends on him to provide the latest and most accurate information. The PIO has to play the role of a diplomat caught in the cross-fires between opposing armies and sometimes he has to play the role with brutal frankness. There comes a time when after doing all he can to withhold difficult information he has to ultimately release facts. The PIO is the face of the corporation that shows it cares for its employees. The company has scrupulously followed the path of innovation and growth. But something went amiss and the accident has happened. The brave but empathetic face of the PIO conveys more by attitude and feelings than outward expressions. Anxious relatives of personnel working at sites far away from home are especially vulnerable to hearsays and wait for credible information that only the PIO can provide. The PIO's role becomes particularly stressful if he is entrusted with difficult information involving major accidents and deaths. He has to be tactful and informative at the same time. Conclusion Oil is important but difficult commodity. Oil has to be stored and distributed. Safety and security are the twin important measures that inevitably go hand in hand with oil. Compromising on safety and security on the storage and transportation of oil is akin to compromising on human lives and property. Most of the time, mishaps occur because of minor oversights. Where oil is concerned, even minor mishaps could end up in major tragedies if due care is not exercised. There is silence about the series of explosion at Buncefield oil storage and transfer depot. These explosions did not happen by chance. They were caused. The positive outcome of the incident is that no one was badly injured. The negative outcome is that over 2000 people from the vicinity had to be evacuated along with the waste of scarce and important asset like oil not to speak of the damages to the environment by the large plume of smoke from the burning stock of oil. It is too easy to imagine. However, most accidents occur with minor actions. A small crack in a dam may lead to flooding of the entire area. Likewise, as mentioned earlier, a lighted cigarette thrown carelessly could wreak havoc. Discipline and vigilance are two important components that go a long way to safeguard any oil depot. Sources: Assignment Brief, EdA Fire & Rescue Service Management (yr1), 406412_university centre.pdf About ICS/UC and the NRS, http://www.osha.gov/SLTC/etools/ics/about.html# Emergency Management and the Incident Command System, http://www.hhs.gov/disasters/discussion/planners/mscc/chapter1/1.3.html Freeman, John; Incident Command System Training Manual, 2006, http://fd.ema.arrl.org/ICS_TM.htm Incident Command System (a), 20 September 2007, Dispatch Magazine Online, http://www.911dispatch.com/info/ics/index.html Incident Command Systems (b), 2003, http://www.sortteam.org/ICS_Present_SMAT2.pdf Incident Command System (ICS), 2009, http://www.emd.wa.gov/training/training_incident_command_system.shtml Incident Command System (ICS) Overview, http://www.fema.gov/emergency/nims/IncidentCommandSystem.shtm#content O'Neill, Brian; A Model Assessment Tool for the Incident Command System: A Case Study of the San Antonio Fire Department, 2008, http://ecommons.txstate.edu/arp/270/ The Incident Command System (Field Response), February 2008, Town of Truckee, http://www.townoftruckee.com/Modules/ShowDocument.aspxdocumentid=480 Workshop Proceedings, Incident Command System for Disaster Management in Indonesia, November 2008, U.S. Indian Ocean Tsunami Warning System (IOTWS) Program, http://apps.develebridge.net/usiotws/10/Indonesia_ICS-Planning_Nov07.pdf Figure Figure 1 - Incident Command Systems (b), 2003, http://www.sortteam.org/ICS_Present_SMAT2.pdf Read More