Incident commander

The local person responsible for all decisions relating to the management of the incident. TTie Incident Commander Is in charge at the incident site. 

It is designed to begin developing from the time an incident occurs until the requirement for management and operations no longer exists. The Incident Commander is a title which can apply equally to an engine company captain, or the chief of a police department, depending... 

PRIMARY FEATURES OF THE INCIDENT COMMAND SYSTEM Adaptability Flexibility Span of Control Unity of Command... 

Emergency Response Basics and Hazard Awareness 17 INCIDENT COMMANDER STAFF... 

Employees outside immediate release area who assist on-scene incident commander All activities coordinated through individual in charge of the incident command system Examples industrial hygienists or health physicists providing guidance on PPL selection Individuals likely to witness or discover a release and who are trained to initiate emergency response sequence... 

Process operators may take limited action in danger areas if they (1) have informed the incident command structure of the emergency. (2) have adequate PPE. (3) have adequate training in procedures they are to perform, and (4) employ the buddy system... 

SCBA use in emergency response 29 CER 1910.120 (qX3)(iv) requires that a positive-pressure SCBA be used while engaged in emergency response, until such time that the individual in charge of the ICS determines through the use of air monitoring that a decreased level of respiratory protection will not result in hazardous exposure to employees. If the incident commander believes that hazards are not adequately characterized, he or she must order the use of positive-pressure SCBAs. 

Improvement Item Reverse 911 was not activated in timely manner due to access available only by Emergency Management personnel. This weakness has been corrected so that Reverse 911 can now be activated through direction from Dispatch supervisor or authorization of Incident Commander. 

Improvement Item Fire Department should establish recorder position to assist and document IC (Incident Commander) activities Court recorders were provided but not coordinated with IC. No coordination between Fire Department and EMS during initial incident response. Incident Command System (ICS) process was not followed by all responding agencies. 

Improvement Item Formal mutual aid agreement needed with Richmond County. GVW Fire Department personnel need to be briefed on County Emergency Operations plans and procedures. Entry teams from other agencies not coordinated with FDIC (Fire Department Incident Commander) during early hours of the incident. Buses used for transport of evacuees were not coordinated with FDIC. Better integration of law enforcement and EMS personnel into Fire Department ICS (Incident Command System) was needed. 

Strength Habitability surveys conducted at CP (command post) upon arrival of Haz-Mat team. EPA conducted surveys at CP upon their arrival. SRS (Savannah River Site) and Richmond County Haz-Mat resources arrived on scene within a timely manner and were designated by FDIC (Fire Department Incident Commander) to be responsible for Haz-Mat operations. Haz-Mat personnel assisted in CP location determination. EPA utilized Coast Guard Gulf Coast Strike Team to provide monitoring and on scene response. By comparing consist (a list of all the cars in the train which describes their position in the train, type, contents, destination, etc.) to entry team visual inspection, chemicals involved were accurately identified. Written response plan and safety procedures implemented for Haz-Mat operations. Briefings provided to Haz-Mat responders by Safety Officer on entry considerations maps were covered for responders unfamiliar with the area. 

Strength Dispatcher initiated all call pages for other fire departments to be on standby without consulting IC (Incident Commander). Specific directions were provided to responders reporting to CP. Community support to provide facilities (Honda Cars/John-son Motors, Baptist Church) was very beneficial to command and response operations. 

Improvement Item GVW Fire Department should establish PIO (Public Information Officer) position for adequate representation at joint press conferences. This would allow for better coordination between ACSO (Aiken County Sheriffs Office) and the Fire Department Incident Commander. 

Strength ACSO shift supervisor performed running roll call for those on-duty. Personnel were ordered to go to staging (per their Incident Command System training) and reported to Aiken Department of Public Safety for accountability. ACSO appointed Staging officer to coordinate incoming law enforcement resources. To aid in accountability efforts, an employee roster was developed by plant supervision (from Avondale Mills). 

Strength The Incident Command System and key positions were implemented early in response. Routine briefings were conducted for participating agencies. When Sheriff left the CP, command was transformed to other ACSO staff. 

Improvement Item Key agency representatives responding to the CP should be clearly identified and remain in the CP throughout the incident to support the IC (Incident Commander). 

Improvement Item Habitability surveys were not conducted initially at Command Post or Forward Operations. First ACEMS unit responded directly to the scene and had to leave the area due to fumes. Entry should be coordinated with IC (Incident Commander). Safety officer was not designated for EMS operations. Safety Officer responsibilities were defaulted to ACEMS Shift Manager. 

Improvement Item Reverse 911 was not activated in a timely manner due to access available only by Emergency Management personnel. This weakness has been corrected so that Reverse 911 can now be activated through direction from Dispatch supervisor or authorization of Incident Commander. Capability will also be established at North Augusta Public Safety and Aiken Public Safety dispatch centers. The database used to initiate calls was five years old. This was identified post incident, and updated information is now available... 

Strength The Incident Command System and key positions were implemented early in response. 

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