Industrial Incident Management

Industrial Incident Management is a three-tape video series designed to provide training to personnel who may be called upon to set up an Incident Management System.

The series
When an industrial emergency occurs, whether a small incident or a major crisis, federal regulations require that an Incident Management System (IMS) be in place, ready for implementation at the first alert. IMS - an organized system of roles, responsibilities and procedures for commanding and controlling emergency operations - provides for a systematic, complete and efficient response to any size emergency, able to expand or contract organizationally based upon the needs and complexity of the particular incident. IMS should be used at all incidents, drills and exercises in order to build familiarity with the system and to provide a solid foundation for its application at large-scale, non-routine situations.

Industrial Incident Management is a three-tape series designed to teach the industrial sector how to set up a workable IMS. The series includes three tapes - "Taking Control," which discusses setting up the system, "Incident Command in the Field," which covers organizing the Command Post and designing strategy to deal with the incident, and "The Emergency Operations Center," which discusses managing the crisis and dealing with the media. Also included are two publications, Incident Management: a Petrochemical Perspective, a reference on incident command and incident management by Greg Noll and Michael Hildebrand, plus Model Procedures Guide for Industry Emergency Response Teams, (based upon the NFS Model Procedures Guide for Structural Firefighting) which will help set up an incident command system for industry.

"Taking Control"
Part One of the series, "Taking Control," discusses common types of industrial emergencies, tells why it is important to have a plan to deal with such emergencies, and provides an overview of the Incident Command System. It explains what constitutes Level I, II and III incidents, and differentiates between an incident and a crisis. It also explains the importance of having an Incident Command System - ready to be activated on a moment's notice - in order to prevent confusion and manage the emergency to a successful conclusion.

The need for effective communication and cooperation among agencies is stressed, as well as the need for written SOPs spelling out specific duties and responsibilities. The program covers the competencies and qualifications necessary for an incident commander as well as Command's basic responsibilities during the emergency. Other topics discussed in the film include procedures for transfer of command, the lead agency concept, and the importance of pre-incident planning and exercises. 18 minutes.

18 minutes Price: $295

"Incident Command in the Field"
"Incident Command in the Field," the second part of Industrial Incident Management, describes how a Command Post operates in the field to provide overall management and direction to the emergency response effort. It explains how Command establishes strategic objectives, assigns key responsibilities, and evaluates the overall effectiveness of the response effort.

The program tells how and where to set up the Command Post and points out the need for reliable communication equipment and reference resources. The importance of leadership by the incident commander, particularly at the beginning of the incident, is stressed, and factors to consider in the IC's decision to select an offensive or defensive strategy are outlined. Other responsibilities of the IC are also covered, including on-going size-up of the situation, risk assessment, delegating authority, assigning units, and managing resources.

Procedures for establishing additional levels of the response organization are outlined and the responsibilities of staff officers are explained, with particular emphasis placed on the role of the Safety Officer. Other topics covered include tactical priorities, resource management/staging areas, terminating the incident and evaluating the response. 22 minutes.

22 minutes Price: $295

"The Emergency Operations Center"
The final tape in the series, "The Emergency Operations Center," describes the factors that cause an incident to become a crisis, and discusses the roles and responsibilities of the Emergency Operations Center during the response. The duties of the Emergency Operations Center Manager in handling all matters external to the emergency response are outlined, including operating the rest of the facility, interfacing with the community as well as government and regulatory officials, media relations, logistical support of the IC, and communicating with corporate headquarters.

The video explains how to outfit the site with appropriate communications equipment, office equipment and specific reference materials. Also discussed are the roles played by crisis teams and crisis managers, typically activated during Level III incidents.

Particular attention is given to handling the media during the crisis, and it teaches how to use the media as an asset. The tape also discusses recovery from the emergency, and explains that recovery actually begins during the crisis and continues long after the crisis team is demobilized. 22 minutes.

22 minutes Price: $295