Protecting Emergency Responders Volume 3: Safety Management in Disaster and Terrorism Response Brian A. Jackson John C. Baker M. Susan Ridgely James T. Bartis Herbert I. Linn

CHSWC Forum on Catastrophe Preparedness April 2006 Emergency Responders are a Vital Part of U.S. Homeland Security, and Must be Protected The United States faces a two-pronged threat of a major crisis - Natural disasters have always been a risk - The risk of terrorist violence has increased in the past five years Emergency responders play a critical role in protecting the public in situations of this magnitude When emergency responders are injured or killed, it impairs the nation’s ability to respond National disasters almost always begin locally - A crisis can hit any community - Federal action can make local responders safer—and more effective

CHSWC Forum on Catastrophe Preparedness April 2006 Policy Question How do we bring together and employ all the capabilities and resources needed to protect responders during major disasters?

CHSWC Forum on Catastrophe Preparedness April 2006 RAND and NIOSH Undertook a Study to Answer this Question Defined “responders” broadly for the purposes of the study -the full range of organizations involved in disaster response Conducted a comprehensive review of the existing literature Gathered extensive input from the responder community - interviews with leadership - in-depth studies of four major incidents - workshop with key representatives of the community Subjected recommendations to rigorous quality review

CHSWC Forum on Catastrophe Preparedness April 2006 Managing the Safety of Emergency Responders Involves Three Main Functions Gather information on: - hazards - responders - safety capabilities Gather Information Analyze available data & make decisions about safety Analyze Options & Make Decisions Communicate safety information and implement decisions Take Action

CHSWC Forum on Catastrophe Preparedness April 2006 During “Routine” Operations, Response Agencies Follow Established Safety Practices In “routine” operations, individual organizations are responsible for the safety of their own personnel The hazards they face and the activities they perform are relatively familiar and predictable They use established procedures—designed for these familiar situations—to carry out the three safety- management functions

CHSWC Forum on Catastrophe Preparedness April 2006 But Major Disasters are Far from Routine... They impose unfamiliar conditions -cover large geographic areas -last for extended periods of time -involve unusual or intense hazards -damage or destroy needed infrastructures Photos: Andrea Booher, FEMA; FEMA News Photo As a result, responders face greater risks. They exceed the capability of any individual response organization -require capabilities that individual organizations do not normally maintain -involve many different types of response organizations

CHSWC Forum on Catastrophe Preparedness April 2006 Disaster Situations Can Break Down the Safety Management Cycle at Every Stage Unfamiliar & extreme conditions make it hard to collect data on hazards & responders Lack of needed expertise & resources creates problems assessing safety threats Gather Information Take Action Scale of the event & involvement of multiple organizations impede efforts to implement safety decisions Analyze Options & Make Decisions

CHSWC Forum on Catastrophe Preparedness April 2006 The Report by RAND & NIOSH Focuses on Two Key Strategies to Address Management Shortfalls Approach safety management from an integrated perspective -protects the safety of all responders -makes the specialized safety resources of different organizations available to all -provides ways of addressing safety issues that are inherently interagency Establish the capabilities to perform the safety-management functions under disaster conditions

CHSWC Forum on Catastrophe Preparedness April 2006 Study Identified a Range of Recommendations to Improve Safety Management Preparedness for: Hazard monitoring, workforce data management, and injury reporting Risk assessment and management Safety equipment planning and logistics Risk communication, safety enforcement, medical interventions, and resource management The safety capabilities of all responding organizations must be integrated effectively NIMS/NRP adopts this perspective, but implementation is still an issue. Gather Information Analyze Options & Make Decisions Take Action