Risk Management and Safety in Emergency Operations

Risk Management and Safety

• The purpose of this procedure is to describe the Regional Operating Procedure regarding risk assessment and safety management of emergency incidents.
• Operating at emergency incidents poses an inherent risk of injury or death, and the goal is to provide the safest possible work environment for members.

Risk Management Plan

• All operating personnel shall work within a standard Risk Management Plan during all emergency operations on every emergency incident.
• The plan is continuously re-assessed at all levels of the incident until all units leave the scene.
• The plan involves:
  • Calculated risk-taking to save savable lives or property.
  • Use of the Strategic Decision Making Model.
  • Incident Command establishment.
  • Proper personal protective equipment.
  • Accountability system establishment.
  • Safety procedures in place.
  • Continuous risk assessment by all members.
  • Uninterrupted Communications.

Operational Information

• The position in the risk management plan represents the "why" of taking risk at an incident.
• The incident strategy and plans are focused on either savable lives or savable property.
• Recognition of savable lives or property through effective size-up determines the level of risk.

Determining Risk Level

• Questions to determine risk level include:
  • Is it reasonable to believe that there are savable lives present at the incident?
  • Are there any survivable environments or compartments at the incident?
  • Do we have the resources and ability to affect a rescue and survive to complete it?

Defensive Strategy

• If no savable lives or property are present, no or very limited risk shall be taken within a defensive strategy.
• Quick and overwhelming attack on the fire from any reasonable position may be the best thing for mitigating significant risk and allowing the opportunity for rescue and firefighter survivability.

Applicability

• This risk management plan is effective and necessary for all types of hazards and incidents, including:
  • Large scale medical incidents.
  • Hazardous materials incidents.
  • Technical rescue incidents.
  • Violent incidents.