Not Protectively Marked
Tactical Operational Guidance
Part One
Initial Attendance
Aide Memoire and Flowchart
Part Two
Detailed Considerations to
Assist Incident Command
Significant Hazards and
Control Measures
Part Three
Incident Review
Incident Review Considerations
Part Four
Rescue from Trenches
Document References
Relevant References
Technical References
Document Overview
A rescue of persons from a trench or trenches where the person is below the
points at which the rescue is to be performed.
Ref no:
Date of issue:
Version no:
Page 1 of 27
R2.1.0
16/10/2014
1
Lead FRS:
Buckinghamshire
Review date:
Protective
marking:
NOT PROTECTIVELY MARKED
15/10/2017
None
Rescue from Trenches
Part One – Initial Attendance Aide Memoire
1
Initial considerations
En route



Initial crew briefing
Consider available in-cab information
Consider available operational guidance



External prompts – weather conditions
Consider resource management
Start risk assessment process

Take control of actions/rescue attempts
being carried out by personnel on site
On arrival




Gather information
Site appliances well away from trench
(15m)
Stop all on-site vehicle movements
Establish RVP and marshalling for
oncoming resources
2

Establish with responsible person:
o Person(s) trapped
o Duration of entrapment
o Nature of entrapment
o Trench info (soil type/depth/width)
o Utilities present
o Previous actions/rescue attempts
o Predetermined rescue plan
4
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
Incident review information
FireMet for rainfall prediction
Potential wider impacts of the incident
Share and gain situational awareness
with other responders
Ensure all relevant risk information is
communicated
Resource information
Consider PDA/ETA
Initiate a make up if necessary
o USAR/technical rescue team
o

benefit
Incident information
3


 Set objectives – balance risk against
Aerial appliance
Consider other agencies - in attendance
/required;
o HART/ambulance
o Utility companies, etc.





Identify how resources are to be
managed
Establish and maintain safe access and
egress
On-site capabilities
RVP/marshalling areas
Deployment site plan
Risk information to inform planning
Key hazards
Key control measures
Confirm relevance of key hazards below;
 Moral pressure to act (no plan in place)
 Underfoot conditions
 Presence of utilities
 Plant and machinery
 Unstable ground conditions
 Ingress of water and mud
Confirm relevance of key control measures;
 Establish and maintain cordons
 Liaise with on-site safety officer/
responsible person
 Shoring
 Avoidance routes
 Working at Height (WAH) procedures
 Safety Observer
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
Irrespirable atmosphere
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Flammable atmosphere
Falls from height
Arduous working conditions
Biohazards
Restricted access
Restricted working area
5
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

No vehicle movement within 15m of
trench
Lighting (intrinsically safe)
Excavate using hand tools only where
utilities are present
Isolation of services
BA procedures
Attendance of utilities rep
Use of detection equipment
Crew rotation
USAR/technical rescue team
Pumping equipment






Is correctly resourced
Is communicated and understood
Flexible
Resilient, e.g. ‘plan B’
Regularly reviewed
Be prepared to brief/hand over

Confirm evacuation signal with all
personnel on the incident ground
Secure by anchored lines when entering
the trench
Control paramedic/medical access to
trench
Utilise HART paramedics if present
Establish incident ground
communications
Establish emergency team
Consider use of breathing apparatus for
rescuers
Ventilation of the trench
Dispersal of nearby spoil heaps


Planning
Common prompts

Ensure incident plan:
o Is based on relevant information
o Follows a logical sequence
o Is appropriately delegated
o Balances risks and benefit
o Aligns to Tactical Mode
Incident specific prompts

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
Minimum personnel in the risk area
Appoint Safety Observer(s)
Liaise with FRS technical rescue advisor
Consider gas monitoring before entering
trench
Isolate nearby plant and machinery
unless this is detrimental to the plan
Use of thermal imaging camera for
casualty location
Stabilise the trench
Remove water if present within the
trench
Establish and maintain appropriate
access/egress points
Rescuers should not be more than 8m
from the nearest means of escape
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Rescue from Trenches
Tension cracks
Tension cracks may appear approx. ½ to ¾
of the depth of the trench away from its
edge. This cracking is an early signal of
further collapse to follow.
Subsidence and bulging
Slight subsidence from the edges of a poorly
supported trench could lead to the
appearance of bulging soil in the trench.
This is also an early signal of further
collapse to follow.
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Sliding
Tension cracks may then lead to sliding as
shown in the diagram. One factor will be the
fluidity of the soil.
Toppling
Tension cracks could also lead to what is
called toppling.
Heaving or squeezing
It is possible that the external weight of soil
can bulge the contours at the bottom of the
trench. This can also occur in supported
trenches.
Boiling
Boiling is caused by the pressure of the
water table as demonstrated in the
diagram.
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Aide Memoire – Flowchart
En route brief











Incident info
Person(s) trapped
Duration of
entrapment
Nature of
entrapment
Trench info (soil
type/depth/width)
Utilities present
Previous actions/
rescue attempts
Predetermined
rescue plan
Make contact with
casualty(s) reassure
Incident review
FireMet for rainfall
prediction
Potential wider
impacts
Consider
 Gas monitoring
 BA for rescuers
 Thermal image
camera for casualty
location
On arrival
 Site appliances well away from
trench
 Establish RVP and marshalling for
oncoming resources
 Conduct initial DRA and
determine extent of incident and
resources required
 Confirm Tactical Mode/first
impressions
 Take control of actions/rescue
attempts being carried out by
personnel on site
 Evaluate, feedback, review and
amend plan
 Minimum personnel in the risk
area
 Liaise with FRS technical rescue
advisor
 Isolate nearby plant and
machinery
 Control paramedic/medical
access to trench
 Utilise HART paramedics if
available
 Establish incident ground
communications
 Establish emergency team
 Tactical ventilation of the trench
 Dispersal of nearby spoil heaps

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



As incident develops
 Crew rotation/
welfare
Page 6 of 27


Safety critical actions
Establish safety zone
Ensure correct levels of PPE/RPE
Appoint Safety Observer
Isolate services as required
Stabilise the trench
Secure by anchored lines when
entering the trench.
Remove water if present within
the trench
Establish and maintain
appropriate access/egress points
Confirm evacuation signal with
all personnel on the incident
ground
Stop vehicle movements
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Resources info
 Consider PDA/ETA
 Make up USAR/
technical rescue
 Aerial appliance
 Other agencies
 Resource
management
Key hazards
 Moral pressure to act
(no plan in place)
 Underfoot conditions
 Presence of utilities
 Plant and machinery
 Unstable ground
conditions
 Ingress of water/mud
 Irrespirable
atmosphere
 Flammable
atmosphere
 Falls from height
 Arduous working
conditions
 Biohazards
 Restricted working
area
 Restricted access




Other hazards
Struck by objects
falling from height
Intimidation and
violence
Manual handling
Excessive noise
Rescue from Trenches
Part Two – Detailed Considerations to Assist
Incident Command
1
Initial considerations
1.1
General information
Trench rescues by their nature are highly emotive incidents, which may
require immediate actions to save life or prevent further collapse. The
incident commander could be faced with poorly conceived rescue attempts
being carried out by colleagues and or public. It is therefore important to
stabilise the situation as soon as possible to enable the initial plan to be
implemented.
a)
Initial crew briefing appropriate to the predicted risk:


b)
Key safety actions
Previous experience sought/shared
External prompts that may influence planning:



Weather, wind, slope, time of day
o
The ground conditions within or surrounding trenches maybe
unstable and subject to further collapse. This could be due to
weather conditions and water table level. The effects of wind
and the sun can rapidly dry the soil turning it grainy, potentially
causing a sudden collapse.
Unusual smells/sounds:
o
May indicate a ruptured or cracked pipework within the trench
Public/on-site staff reaction:
o
Signs of calm or panic may indicate the status of the casualty
1.2
On Arrival
a)
Gather information.
b)
Site appliances well away from trench:


Consider the vibration created by vehicle
Where possible remain on hard standing
c)
Stop all onsite vehicle movements with the exception of emergency
vehicle, which are to be kept to a minimum around the area of operations.
d)
Conduct initial DRA and determine extent of incident and resources
required:

Liaise with FRS technical rescue advisor
e)
Confirm Tactical Mode/first impressions with fire control and Tactical Mode
with all present on the incident ground.
f)
Evaluate, feedback, review and amend plan.
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2
Incident information gathering
2.1
Common
a)
Confirm situation and overview including local factors such as weather,
wind, time of day, state of tide, slope of ground, etc.
b)
Confirm situational awareness with other responders to establish a
common overview.
c)
When reviewing incident information, consider:





d)
2.2
Appropriateness of identified priorities, objectives and tactics
Test of risk v benefit and confirm Tactical Mode
Impact of existing and predicted local factors (weather, wind, time of
day, slope, etc) and reflect in plan
Consider use of FireMet for rainfall prediction.
Effectiveness of implementation of existing incident plan – actual
progress against anticipated timeline, review and amend as
necessary
Potential wider impacts of the incident identified, considered and mitigated:

Political – High profile incident; potential for incident outcome to be
linked positively or negatively to political decisions etc.

Economic– Incident affects high value property; response involves
significant costs, etc.

Societal – Incident affects large school, major employer, high profile
site

Technical – Good or poor performance of equipment, procedure, etc.

Legal – Statutory duty not met, incident contains a crime scene, etc.

Environmental – Incident affects watercourses, involves Site of
Special Scientific Interest (SSSI), etc.

Reputational – Potential to affect FRS reputation, e.g. rise in
reputation following successful or considerate intervention
Rescues
Liaison with responsible person onsite to confirm;
a)
Person(s) trapped
b)
Duration of entrapment
c)
Nature of entrapment
d)
Trench info (soil type/depth/width)
e)
Utilities present
f)
Previous actions/rescue attempts
g)
Predetermined rescue plan
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2.3
Hazardous materials and environmental protection
a)
Are Hazmats involved/likely to be involved?
b)
Use SSRI and/or Site Specific Risk Plan if available
c)
HMEPA/specialist advice
d)
Can contamination of environment be prevented or minimised:




3
Isolate
Contain
Control leaks and spillages
Protect risks (drains, rivers, etc.)
Resource requirements
Resources that are available or may be required and arrangements needed to
manage them.
3.1
Resources
a)
Consider:


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
PDA/ETA
Already deployed
In attendance but not yet deployed
En route and expected to be available for deployment when
prioritising objectives
Required to meet initial and developing incident priorities and
objectives and contingencies
b)
Consider other agencies in attendance and how they can be used to assist
with the incident.
c)
FRS Resources availability - appliances, personnel, specialists, equipment,
consumables (fuel, BA cylinders, etc.).
d)
Specialists/subject matter advisers.
e)
Periodically review resource requirements to meet the needs of the incident
plan and adjust as necessary.
3.2
Resource management
a)
Consult Site Specific Risk Plans
b)
Record resource deployment and availability – site plan
c)
RVP/marshalling, staging or holding areas/cordon control
d)
Establish and maintain safe access and egress
e)
Access and space for specialist appliances/teams
f)
Support sectors: logistics, BA
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g)
Equipment: pools/recovery/servicing/repairs/spares/recording
h)
Reliefs/welfare arrangements
i)
Continually review resource management arrangements
4
Risk information
Consider and review significant hazards and appropriate control measures.
The table below identifies the significant hazards and control measures identified
through pre-planning. Utilise this information where relevant and the risk
information gathered at the incident to develop risk assessments appropriate to
the dynamics of the situation.
4.1
Significant hazards
Operational imperative (moral
pressure to act)

The moral pressure on operational
crews (without a plan in place) to do
all they can to save life, may lead to
crews to expose themselves to a
higher level risk than appropriate.
Intimidation/violence from
members of public/affected
person(s)

Anxious colleagues/members of the
public may physically confront
firefighters.

Language/communication difficulties
may have an impact.
Ground conditions

Uneven ground conditions (ruts)
increase the potential for slips, trips
and falls.
Contact with plant and machinery

Risk of entrapment where plant and
machinery is not or cannot be
isolated.
Page 10 of 27
4.2
Control measures

Personnel should not be influenced
by the moral pressure put upon them
by onlookers or other crew members
expecting immediate action


Establish and maintain cordons

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Critical incident stress management

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
Establish and maintain cordons




Establish and maintain cordons
Liaise with on-site safety
officer/responsible person
Establish and maintain cordons
FRS violence/aggression policy
Language Line (translation service)
Request police assistance/support if
violent and confrontational
conditions are identified or are likely
to be expected
Avoidance routes
Lighting
Intrinsically safe lighting (close to or
within the trench)
Avoidance routes
Lighting
Intrinsically safe lighting (close to or
within the trench)
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Presence of utilities


Rescues may involve persons in
contact with or close to electrical
systems such as cables
transformers, pylons, etc. These
present a risk of electrocution or
electric shock to crews.
Personnel entering the trench may
come into contact with live electrical
services.

Other underground services such as
gas may be exposed or damaged
during trench excavations creating
an additional hazard to personnel.

Utilities could also be hidden behind
the trench walls.
Working in irrespirable
atmospheres

The atmosphere within trenches may
be irrespirable and pose the risk of
asphyxiation, due to poor air flow
and inadequate ventilation.
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Establish and maintain cordons
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Liaison with onsite personnel

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
Isolation of services

Gas detection equipment
Isolation
Avoidance routes
Lighting
Safety Observer
Isolation of supply by engineer
Isolation of services
Physical restraint of machinery
On site liaison regarding controls/
isolation.
Safety Observer
Excavate using hand tools only
where utilities are present
Establish and maintain cordons
BA procedures
Attendance of utilities rep
Isolation of service secured
Use of detection equipment
Adherence to on-site warning signs
BA procedures
On site liaison with competent
person
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Flammable atmosphere


The atmosphere within or
surrounding trenches may be
flammable, and pose the risk of an
explosion.
Natural gas (methane) can seep
through trench walls and collect in
pockets beneath the collapsed soil.
Unstable ground leading to further
collapse


The ground conditions within or
surrounding trenches maybe
unstable and subject to further
collapse. This could be due to
weather conditions, water table level
or vibrations from plant, machinery
or other vehicle movements on-site.
The effects of wind and the sun can
rapidly dry the soil turning it grainy,
potentially causing a sudden
collapse.
Restricted working area

Trapped casualties maybe positioned
in hard to reach locations within the
trench. Internal conditions will be
further restricted by the presence of
equipment, services, struts, boarding
and debris, much of which may be
dislodged during incidents.
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Establish and maintain cordons

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Gas monitoring

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
Lighting





RVP
Isolation of services
Intrinsically safe equipment
BA procedures
Tactical ventilation
Firefighting jet
Safety jet
Attendance of utilities representative
Seek specialist advice from
competent person on/off site
Establish and maintain cordons
BA procedures
Safety line
Avoidance routes
Establish and maintain cordons.
Working at Height (WAH) procedures
Safety Observer
No vehicle movement within 15m of
trench
Communicate evacuation procedure
USAR
Use of mechanical aids
Removal of loading from around the
trench
Crew rotation
Communication
WAH Procedures
Use of mechanical aids
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Restricted access

Access/egress points may be limited.
The movement of personnel entering
may be restricted and there is a
potential for injuries, resulting from
slips, trips, falls and collisions with
obstructions within the opening.
Ingress of water and mud

Water may enter below ground
features and, dependant on the type
of soil, accumulate in the trench.
Falls from height

Rescue operations including casualty
removal, access/egress may increase
the potential of falling into the
trench.
Struck by objects falling from
height

Soil, debris and equipment has the
potential to fall into the trench
causing injury.
Manual handling

Lighting

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

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


Establish and maintain cordons

Correct use of manual handling
techniques: TILE


Crew rotation
Working with and moving
equipment, spoil, debris and
casualties increases the risk of
personnel injury.
Arduous working conditions






Due to levels of physical activity,
Individuals may suffer the effect of
physiological stress before it is
realised by them or their colleagues.
Page 13 of 27
BA procedures
Space creation
Air monitoring equipment
Use of mechanical access
Pumping equipment
Safe working near water procedures
Safety officer
USAR
Airline equipment
FireMet
WAH procedures
Establish and maintain cordons
Lighting
Provision of working platforms
Aerial appliance
Establish and maintain cordons
Shoring
Liaison with onsite personnel
Correct use of manual handling
techniques: Task, Individual, load,
Environment (TILE)
FRS welfare arrangements
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Biohazards
Contact with bodily fluids or faecal
matter are sources of infection.
Excessive noise


The incident ground is inherently a
noisy environment with pump
operation, portable generators and
ambient noise.
This can also lead to difficulty in
passing critical information.
5
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
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


Avoid contact
Establish and maintain cordons.
Hygiene procedures
Welfare procedures
Hazmat procedures
Decontamination procedures
Post exposure reporting
Health surveillance
Eliminate source
Minimise exposure
Increase distance
Crew rotation
Hearing protection
Planning
Ensuring the plan delivers the actions required to meet the priorities and
objectives of the incident.
5.1
Aim, objectives and priorities
Clearly defined, ensuring planning is specific, achievable, realistic and sequential
taking resource availability into account ensuring conflicting priorities are
appropriately addressed.
a)
Life critical:



b)
Save saveable lives
Rescues of those at most risk
Prevent catastrophic event
Safety critical:





Public safety
Safety of all responders
Prevent escalation and spread:
Protect Critical National Infrastructure
Protection of property
c)
Environmental protection
d)
Preserve scene
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5.2
Incident specific activity
How priorities and objectives are achieved through planning that balances risk
against benefits.
a)
Minimum personnel in the risk area
b)
Appoint Safety Observer(s)/Officer(s)
c)
Liaise with FRS technical rescue advisor:

‘Plan B’ considered
d)
Consider gas monitoring before entering trench
e)
Isolate nearby plant and machinery unless this is detrimental to the plan
f)
Use of thermal imaging camera for casualty location
g)
Stabilise the trench
h)
Remove water if present within the trench
i)
Secure by anchored lines when entering the trench.
j)
Control paramedic/medical access to trench
k)
Utilise HART paramedics if available
l)
Establish emergency team
m)
Consider use of breathing apparatus for rescuers
n)
Ventilation of the trench
o)
Dispersal of nearby spoil heaps
p)
Consider the stability of adjacent structures
q)
Use of FireMet for rainfall prediction
r)
Consider the use of aerial appliance for access/egress
s)
Consider unidentified services
t)
Mitigate environmental impact/liaison with Environment Agency
u)
Implement decontamination procedures
v)
Implement hygiene and welfare
w)
Identify relief arrangements
x)
Continually review and amend plan, based upon prioritise and objectives
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6
Command and control
Command structure and incident ground organisation to control activities.
a)
Confirm that the command structure meets the needs of the incident plan
with:







Appropriate level of incident command
Delegated roles, responsibilities and authority limits that are clearly
understood and within the experience and capability of individuals
within the command team
Clearly defined reporting lines established
Clearly defined communication routes/methods appropriate to the
circumstances
Manageable spans of control
Sectors (operational and support if required), with coordinated
working
Adequate resources
b)
Command support established and command post suitably located and
identified.
c)
Any changes in the command structure and relevant details of the incident
plan are clearly communicated and known to all on the incident ground.
d)
Effective command is maintained incorporating the previous IC/command
team.
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7
Safety and welfare
7.1
Safety considerations:
a)
Suitable and sufficient DRA/ARA conducted and appropriately reviewed
b)
Operating practices balance benefit against risk
c)
Safety Observers or Safety Officer(s) with clear briefing regarding area(s)
of responsibility and clear reporting line(s) confirmed
d)
Cordons established, controlled/entry records
e)
Holding areas
f)
Safety briefings
g)
Evacuation systems/routes
h)
First aid/ambulance service
i)
Exposure to heat, cold, weather limited or mitigated
j)
Safety events recorded/investigation initiated
7.2
Welfare considerations
a)
Crew rotation and reliefs
b)
Hydration
c)
Rest and feeding
d)
Toilet facilities
e)
Consider concerned relatives/others becoming aware (via news, social
media, mobile phones, etc.)
f)
Stress, initial support
g)
Protracted incident
h)
Reliefs for specialists considered
i)
Shelter for responders (out of sight?)
j)
Shelter for displaced residents (in consultation local authority)
k)
Support from voluntary services (Red Cross, St John)
l)
Medical aftercare/occupational health referral
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8
Communication
Establish reliable, accurate, timely communications
8.1
FRS exchange of information
a)
Regular command team briefings/updates/relevant information sharing
b)
Clear briefings by delegated command team/officers to cascade info
c)
Clear lines of communication established
d)
Confirmation that information passed is received, understood and being
acted upon
e)
Communication format is determined by incident needs (e.g. runners if
poor radio reception)
f)
Communication discipline maintained
g)
Tactical Mode changes/updates broadcast
h)
Changes to the plan are shared
i)
Seek and give regular feedback regarding progress
j)
Interagency liaison, consider METHANE
k)
Brief senior commanders and interested parties remote from incident
8.2
Technical considerations
a)
Single link with Fire Control established
b)
Radio channels/call groups assigned
c)
Appropriate links to other agencies
d)
Specialist equipment
e)
Intrinsically safe equipment
9
Liaison
Effective liaison with external agencies and interested parties to build shared
situational awareness
9.1
Who?
a)
Emergency responders
b)
Medical teams
c)
Local authority officers
d)
Structural engineers
e)
On-site knowledge
f)
Experts/specialists/site specialists
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g)
Control rooms
h)
Utilities and other agencies
i)
Public
j)
FRS media department/Media
9.2
How?
a)
Formal – Gold, Silver, Bronze
b)
Regular recorded cross-agency meetings
c)
Media briefings
d)
Panel of advisers
e)
Informal – working alongside other agencies
f)
Liaison with off-site advisers
g)
Inter-agency liaison officer
9.3
Why?
h)
Sharing of safety information
i)
Common aims/unity of purpose
j)
Specific responsibilities confirmed
k)
Relevant info sharing
l)
Involve and maximise assistance
m)
Better informed decisions
n)
Address conflicting priorities of other agencies
o)
Supports needs of other agencies
p)
Positive PR/accurate/common media messages
q)
Warning/informing public
10
Closing stages and post incident considerations
10.1 Scaling down operations
a)
Community impacts addressed as early as possible such as removing
cordons as early as possible
b)
Once operational activity is completed, withdraw personnel and equipment
from risk area
c)
Maintain recording, logging, Tactical Mode
d)
Any appropriate agreed assistance with site clearance
10.2 Safeguarding issues
e)
Not applicable
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10.3 Investigations
a)
Scene preservation
b)
Logging any FRS photo/video evidence
c)
Accident investigation - Inform Health and Safety Executive if IC believes
site management may not undertake this responsibility
d)
Post mortem/Coroner’s hearing considerations
e)
Criminal investigation/litigation considerations
f)
Public or Judicial Inquiry considerations
g)
Arranging potential joint investigations
h)
Identify key personnel/witnesses/statements
10.4 Community safety activity
a)
Community Safety activities initiated as appropriate
b)
Additional help summoned
10.5 Equipment issues
a)
Equipment returned, cleaned or bagged as appropriate
b)
Equipment left in situ logged
c)
Equipment decontamination/recovery plan
d)
Impounded equipment managed as appropriate
10.6 Economic considerations
a)
FRS cost recovery
b)
FRS incident number passed to people likely to have experienced financial
loss
c)
Owner/occupier insurance matters discussed (if appropriate)
d)
Local business as usual/return to normality issues considered as far as
reasonable
10.7 Incident recording
a)
Gather info for IRS
b)
Gather all incident command paperwork
c)
Decision logs secured
10.8 Debriefing and post incident welfare
a)
Carry out hot incident debrief (include other agencies if appropriate)
b)
Assess crew welfare issues
c)
Start critical incident debrief procedure as appropriate
d)
Occupational health considered as appropriate
e)
Consider need for formal multi-agency debriefs
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10.9 Handover and site security
a)
Handover with safety brief prepared/undertaken
b)
Handover to appropriate person/authority
c)
Site security considered
d)
Re-inspection considered/organised
10.10
Other Issues
a)
Firefighting PPE cleaning/re-supply issues
b)
VIP attendance
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Part Three – Incident Review
Incident Review Considerations
Incident specific
1
User notes
Initial actions
 Was available information/guidance
gathered and considered
 Were DRA/ARA completed and acted
on
 Did initial actions balance risk and
benefit
 Were initial priorities and sequence of
objectives appropriate
 Were adequate resources secured and
managed
 Were effective command, control and
communication arrangements in place
 Are remedial actions required
2












Incident information
What has happened
What is happening now
What is likely to happen
Who/what is at risk
Establish the parameters of the
incident
Are there any immediate risks
Is immediate action required
Are local factors understood and being
addressed (weather, time of day,
slope of ground, etc)
Are the wider impacts understood and
being addressed (PESTLE)
Are E&D implications being addressed
Has SSRP, SSRI, Operational guidance
been consulted
Are actions in line with Operational
Guidance
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Incident specific
3
User notes
Resources information
 Confirm resource requirements,
consider:
o FRS
o Other agencies
o Contingencies
 Are resources appropriate to plan
 Is resource management adequate
4
Hazard and safety information
 Are DRA/ARA/pre-planned RA
significant hazards and control
measures incorporated into incident
planning
 Has operational guidance/SSRI/SSRP
considered
 Do actions balance risk against
benefits
5
Incident planning
5.1 Priorities and objectives
 Objectives identified and priorities
appropriate
 Incident activity appropriate
5.2 Plan
 Is there a plan and is it working
 Will it deliver the actions required to
meet the priorities and objectives of
the incident and:
 Is it appropriate to the incident type
 Is it based on relevant information
 Does it follows a logical sequence
 Is it appropriately delegated
 Does it balance risk and benefit
 Does it reflect the Tactical Mode
 Is it correctly resourced
 Is it communicated and understood
 Is it flexible
 Is it resilient, e.g. ‘plan B’/
contingencies
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Incident specific
User notes
 Is it monitored, reviewed, evaluated,
maintained, if amended,
communicated
6
Command and control
Confirm existing arrangements meet the
needs of the incident plan, with appropriate:












7
Balance of risk and benefit
Level of command
Organisational structure
Sectorisation (operational and
support)
Roles and responsibilities, (clearly
defined and understood)
Spans of control
Clear communication routes
Continuity - initial IC/Command team
Resources
Shared situational awareness FRS/
others
Command support/command post
Changes communicated to all
Safety and welfare
 Confirm adequate safety
arrangements:
o DRA/ARA conducted and reviewed
o Safety briefings
o Safety Observers/Safety Officer(s)
o Cordons established, controlled
o Holding areas
 Evacuation systems/routes
 Operating practices appropriately
balance risk and benefits
 First aid/Ambulance service
 Safety events recorded/investigation
 Welfare of personnel and others
 Protracted incident
o Crew rotation and reliefs
o Rest, feeding, hydration
o Toilet facilities
o Shelter
o Friends and relatives concerns
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Incident specific




8
User notes
Stress, initial support
Medical aftercare/OHU referral
Evacuation shelter – local authority
Voluntary services support (RVS, etc.)
Communications
 Briefings and information exchange/
cascade – FRS to FRS and FRS to
others
 Clear lines of communication
established
o Incident to mobilising control
o Incident FRS to FRS
o Incident FRS to Others
 Communication format appropriate
 Tactical Mode changes/updates
broadcast
 Changes to the plan are shared
 Changes in IC/Command team shared
 Regular feedback/sit reps
 Messages, METHANE
 Brief senior commanders and
interested parties remote from
incident
 Technical considerations addressed
9
Liaison with other agencies and interested parties
Consider and confirm:
 Who
 How
 Why
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Incident specific
10
User notes
Closing stages and post incident considerations
 Investigations/actions supported
o Coroner’s hearing
o Criminal investigation
o Public or Judicial inquiry
o Fire investigation
o Accident investigation
o Litigation
o Safeguarding passed to authority
o Breach of fire safety legislation/
identification of trend
o Financial loss/cost recovery
o Scene preservation/securing
evidence/records
 Returning to new normality
o Equipment decontamination/
recovery plan
o Re-inspection organised
o Local prevention activities
o Scaling back of operations
 Incident closure preparation
o Completion and securing of
records
o Gather information for IRS, etc.
o Incident debriefing and evaluation,
sharing lessons learnt
o Site clearance
o Handover - Site safety and
security briefing, responsibility –
record
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Part Four – Document References
1.
Relevant References
This incident type is potentially linked to the following other operational guidance
documents:
Document Name
Link to Document
To be populated
2.
Technical References


GRA 1.1 Emergency response and arrival at the scene
GRA 2.1.3 Rescues from confined spaces trenches and pits
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