GENERIC EXTERNAL EMERGENCY PLAN FOR UPPER TIER ESTABLISHMENTS IN FIFE

Transcription

1 THE CONTROL OF MAJOR ACCIDENT HAZARDS (COMAH) REGULATIONS 2015 GENERIC EXTERNAL EMERGENCY PLAN FOR UPPER TIER ESTABLISHMENTS IN FIFE Prepared and Emergency Resilience Team Version: 5.0 issued by: Date: January 2016 Review Date: January 2019

2 CONTENTS Page No Foreword 4 Distribution List 5 Revision History 6 Record of Exercises SECTION 1 INTRODUCTION Aim Objectives Scope Guiding Principles Environment Information to Other Establishments (Domino Effect SECTION 2 MANAGEMENT AND ADMINISTRATION Responsibility Distribution Testing and Exercising Monitoring, Evaluation and Review SECTION 3 INFORMATION Legislation Competent Authority Associated Plans Site Information SECTION 4 UPPER TIER ESTABLISHMENTS & POTENTIAL HAZARDS Upper Tier Establishments in Fife Site Hazards & Notification to the Public Major Accident Hazard Pipelines Major Accident Uncontrolled Developments Serious Danger Major Accident to the Environment Dangerous Substances SECTION 5 ROLES & RESPONSIBILITIES Site Operators Police Scotland Scottish Fire & Rescue Service Scottish Ambulance Service NHS Fife Fife Council The Competent Authority Voluntary Aid Organisations 23 2

3 6.0 INCIDENT MANAGEMENT PLAN ACTIVATION Alert Notification Declaration of a Major Accident Declaration of a Major Incident Site Operators - Response Actions Police Scotland - Response Actions Scottish Fire & Rescue Service - Response Actions Scottish Ambulance Service - Response Actions NHS Fife - Response Actions Fife Council - Response Actions The Competent Authority Additional Key Responders Public Information Zone Determination of Public Information Zone Warning & Informing Public Information Zone Public Safety - Emergency Broadcasts Media & Public Communications Emergency Coordination Centre Forward Control Point Rendezvous Point Debriefing of Incident CONTACTS Contacts GLOSSARY OF ABBREVIATIONS Glossary of Abbreviations 36 ANNEXES - COMAH SITES IN FIFE Annex A - Shell NGL Plant, Mossmorran Annex B - ExxonMobil Chemical & Ethylene Plant, Mossmorran Annex C - Shell NGL Process Area, Braefoot Bay Marine Terminal Annex D - ExxonMobil Process Area, Braefoot Bay Marine Terminal Annex E - Diageo Leven Annex F - Diageo Cluny Bond 3

4 FOREWORD The Control of Major Accident Hazard Regulations 2015 Generic External Emergency Plan for Upper Tier Establishments in Fife The purpose of the Control of Major Accident Hazards (COMAH) Regulations 2015 is to prevent major accidents involving dangerous substances and limit the consequences to people and the environment of any accidents that do occur. The 2015 Regulations require operators of an upper tier establishment to prepare a safety report demonstrating, amongst other things, that a major accident prevention policy and a safety management system for implementing it have been put into effect. In conjunction with these requirements, the operators and the relevant local authority where the upper tier establishment is situated, must prepare the following plans to respond to and mitigate the consequences of a major accident namely; Internal Emergency Plan prepared by the operator in accordance with Regulation 12, which includes sufficient information to enable the preparation of an; External Emergency Plan prepared by the local authority specifying the measures to be taken for dealing with the consequences of possible major accidents beyond the establishment. This external emergency plan has been prepared on the basis of information supplied to Fife Council by upper tier establishments in Fife. The plan details the roles to be carried out by the emergency services, Fife Council and other external organisations in the event of a major accident. This includes the arrangements established to assist the emergency on-site response. Therefore, this external emergency plan is intended to dovetail with the internal emergency plans of upper tier establishments in Fife to ensure a robust and integrated emergency management response to any major accident that may occur within the boundaries of these establishments and where the possibility exists for any related off-site consequences. Steve Grimmond Chief Executive Fife Council 4

5 DISTRIBUTION LIST Organisation Emergency Services & Key Responders Holder Police Scotland Scottish Fire & Rescue Service Scottish Ambulance Service NHS Fife Maritime & Coastguard Agency Site Operators Shell NGL Plant Mossmorran & Braefoot Bay ExxonMobil Ethylene Plant, Mossmorran & Braefoot Bay Diageo Leven Diageo Cluny Bond Fife Council Chief Executive Service Communities Enterprise & Environment Finance & Corporate Services Education & Children s Services Health & Social Care Inspector P Division - Emergency, Events & Resilience Planning East Area Resilience Manager Edinburgh Regional Resilience Advisor Emergency Planning Officer Regional Operation Manager Health, Safety & Environment Officer Safety & Emergency Response Advisor Risk & Safety Manager Risk manager Chief Executive Executive Director Communications & Customer Insight Manager Emergency Resilience Team Emergency Control Room Customer Service Delivery Manager Executive Director Head of Assets, Transportation & Environment Senior Manager, Protective Services Executive Director Executive Director Director Other Agencies Health & Safety Executive Scottish Environment Protection Agency Principal Health and Safety Inspector Resilience Officer, Edinburgh 5

6 PLAN REVIEW SCHEDULE Nature of Review Name of Reviewer Plan Version No. Date Re-issued Plan prepared following COMAH Regulations. Plan revised after Regulations amended Plan revised following 3 yearly review Plan reviewed to incorporate notified changes Plan reviewed to incorporate COMAH Regulations 2015 and SEVESO III Directive F. Wallace SEPO Version 1 January 2000 F. Wallace SEPO Version 2 January 2009 D. Finnie EPO Version 3 July 2013 D. Finnie EPO Version 4 July 2014 D. Finnie, ERO Version 5 January 2016 RECORD OF EXERCISES Exercise Name Exercise Type Venue Date of Exercise MACR Livex Live Play RAF Leuchars 30 September 2009 Exercise White Live Play FEP Mossmorran 30 March 2011 Blanket Exercise Alligin Live Play Braefoot Bay 26 October 2011 Terminal Exercise Passing Live Play Braefoot Bay 25 April 2012 Cloud Terminal MACR Livex Live Play RAF Leuchars 20 September 2012 Exercise Sycamore Live Play FEP Shell 24 October 2012 Mossmorran Exercise Explorer Live Play DM Crombie 04 November 2012 (MACR) Exercise Skyfall Live Play Diageo, Leven 12 June 2013 Exercise Table Top Shell - Braefoot Bay 23 rd October 2013 Portmarnock Marine Terminal Exercise Myers Live Play Shell - Mossmorran 23 rd October 2014 Exercise Tyne Live Play Shell - Braefoot Bay Marine Terminal 22 nd October

7 1.1 Aim SECTION 1 INTRODUCTION The aim of this plan is to ensure an efficient, proportionate and effective multi-agency emergency response to a major accident occurring at any upper tier establishment within the Fife Council area. The Control of Major Accident Hazard (COMAH) Regulations, 2015 aims to prevent major accidents involving dangerous substances and limit the consequences to people and the environment following any accidents that do occur. 1.2 Objectives 1.3 Scope In accordance with Regulation 11 of the COMAH Regulations 2015, every internal and external emergency plan prepared for the purpose of these Regulations must have the following objectives; a) contain and control incidents so as to minimise the consequences and to limit the damage to human health, the environment and property b) implement the necessary measures to protect human health and the environment from the consequences of major accidents c) communicate the necessary information to the public and to the services or authorities concerned in the area; and d) provide for the restoration and clean-up of the environment following a major accident This plan provides an overview of how Fife Council, the emergency services and other external organisations will respond to a major accident at an upper tier establishment in Fife. This external emergency plan is designed to dovetail with the internal emergency plan maintained and activated by the site operators. The plan is not intended to be an overarching emergency response plan or Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for single agencies or organisations. It is the responsibility of all emergency responders to maintain their own emergency plans or procedures. 1.4 Guiding Principles The plan sets out arrangements to ensure the response to a major accident at an upper tier establishment in Fife is proportionate to its scale or potential impact and sets out the activation procedures for incidents not only occurring on site but where there may be any associated off site implications. The plan provides information concerning the role and responsibilities of Fife Council and other key emergency responders in ensuring a timely, measured and coordinated approach during the response phase to a major accident at an upper tier establishment. 7

8 Whilst any on-site major accident will be managed through an established command structure, operating from the Emergency Coordination Centre (ECC) within the relevant site, this plan also considers the wider off-site implications resulting from the on-site incident. For example, there may be occasions due to the nature of the incident that evacuation of residents and/or businesses surrounding the plant may have to be considered. On such occasions, the content of this plan outlines how these off-site implications are managed, in tandem with but isolated from, the on-site emergency command structure. This external emergency plan is intended to complement the on site arrangements to allow for an effective and coordinated response to the report of any major accident. 1.5 Environment The environment comprises built features, air, water, groundwater, soil, flora and fauna, including those with protected, designated or controlled status, such as Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI), protected buildings, monuments, ecological species and habitats or designated areas. An incident will also be a major accident if it results in serious danger, whether realised or potential, to the natural or built environment. The effect may be immediate or delayed and may sometimes be relatively long-lasting but not necessarily irreversible. Operators should consider the potential for widespread loss or damage to the general environment as well as the risk of adverse effects on a rare, unique or otherwise valued component of our natural or built environment. Details of the surroundings will form part of the safety report for upper tier establishments. Serious danger to the environment includes accidents with the potential to result in; a. the death or adverse effects on local populations of species or organisms, with lower thresholds for high-value or protected species b. contamination of drinking water supplies, ground or groundwater c. damage to designated areas, habitats or populations of species within the areas d. damage to listed buildings e. damage to widespread habitats; f. damage to the marine or aquatic environment 1.6 Information to Other Establishments (Domino Effect) The competent authority must identify groups of establishments where the risk or consequences of a major accident may be increased because of the; a) geographical position of establishments b) proximity of establishments to each other c) inventories of dangerous substances held by establishments In some cases, a major accident at one establishment might be triggered by an incident at another not necessarily adjacent establishment (the so-called domino effect ). The initiating event need not be a major accident itself but must be at an 8

9 establishment, either upper or lower tier. The duty to identify establishments with the potential to affect neighbouring establishments in this way lies with the competent authority. These establishments are then part of a domino group. 9

10 2.1 Responsibility SECTION 2 MANAGEMENT AND ADMINISTRATION This plan is issued under the authority of the Chief Executive, Fife Council in association with the site operators, the emergency services and other key responders, to meet Fife Council s responsibilities to prepare an external emergency plan in terms of the COMAH Regulations Distribution This external emergency plan has been distributed by in PDF Adobe Acrobat format as per the Distribution List on Page 5 above. Notwithstanding, this plan is also available to the public on the Fife Council website Fife Direct under the Emergency Resilience Team pages. Any interim changes to this plan will be made, notified to those on the Distribution List and the updated version placed on Fife Direct Testing and Exercising There are considerable benefits to be gained from testing the internal and external emergency plans (or parts of plans) at the same time, as well as potential financial savings from avoiding duplication. Testing both plans together will demonstrate how well they dovetail with each other. For example, the roles of key responders in mitigation, both on-site and off-site, are described in this external emergency plan rather than the internal emergency plan, which deals with the role of the operator. Exercising this part of the external emergency plan with the internal emergency plan can test the effective coordination of all emergency response personnel handling a major accident at the establishment. Regulation 12 of the COMAH Regulations, 2015 stipulates that testing should be carried out at least once every three years. Testing an emergency plan may consist of a live exercise or a table-top exercise supported by testing of other components (which may be done at separate times), including communication arrangements. Full guidance on the testing of emergency plans, both in live play or table-top format, is contained within Regulation 12. As part of the liaison between the site operators and Fife Council, the opportunity is taken to test elements of the external emergency plan, resulting from on-site exercises. However, Fife Council, as part of their statutory responsibility, may hold specific off-site exercises as deemed necessary. The arrangements for the emergency services and other key responders to take part in exercises will be coordinated by Fife Council via the agenda of the Fife Local Resilience Partnership (LRP), in tandem with the annual training programme overseen by the East of Scotland Regional Resilience Partnership (RRP) Training and Exercising Group. 2.4 Monitoring, Evaluation and Review This external emergency plan has been prepared and will be maintained by the Fife Council Emergency Resilience Team. In line with the Regulation 14 of the COMAH Regulations, 2015 the local authority will at suitable intervals not exceeding three years; 10

11 a) review and where necessary, revise the plan; and b) test the plan Notwithstanding, this plan will be updated, as necessary, on an ongoing basis to reflect significant changes to organisational structures, roles and responsibilities or lessons learned following structured debriefs of exercises and/or live incidents. 11

12 SECTION 3 INFORMATION 3.1 Legislation Regulation 13 of the COMAH Regulations, 2015 stipulates that a local authority for the area where an upper tier establishment is located must prepare a suitable written external emergency plan for dealing with the consequences of possible major accidents beyond the establishment. The external emergency plan details the roles to be carried out by emergency services, local authorities and other external organisations in the event of a major accident. This includes the arrangements established to help with the emergency response on-site. Fife Council therefore has the responsibility to prepare such an external emergency plan for all upper tier establishments in Fife. As permitted by Regulation 13 of the COMAH Regulations 2015 and due to the fact that Fife has a number of upper tier establishments in its area, each establishment has its own external emergency plan in the form of an annex to this generic external emergency plan. 3.2 Competent Authority For the purpose of the COMAH Regulations 2015 the competent authority is: a) in relation to a nuclear establishment, the Office for Nuclear Regulation (ONR) and the appropriate agency acting jointly; b) otherwise, the Health & Safety Executive (HSE) and the appropriate agency acting jointly. A key feature of the COMAH Regulations 2015 is that they are enforced by a competent authority. The competent authority for an establishment is the HSE, together with an appropriate agency, which in relation to Scotland is the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA). A memorandum of understanding, available on the HSE website, sets out how the organisations work together. The arrangements ensure that; a) appropriate expertise on health and safety and the environment is brought to bear on the regulation of major hazards b) activities of HSE or ONR or the environment agencies, in relation to duties under the Regulations, are coordinated, consistent, transparent, targeted and proportionate c) the possibility of conflicting requirements being placed on operators is reduced d) HSE, ONR or the environment agencies will collaborate on issues of common interest, so avoiding duplicating activity for themselves and for operators. 12

13 3.3 Associated Plans Fife Council Generic Emergency Plan The Fife Council Generic Emergency Plan provides the framework for an integrated and co-ordinated response by Fife Council services working with the emergency services and other key organisations required to respond to any major emergency in Fife. The generic emergency plan is capable of being activated in response to any category of major emergency. It focuses on the core local authority responsibilities for providing support to the emergency services and to those directly affected by the incident. The plan identifies Fife Council s incident management structures along with the specific roles and responsibilities of relevant council services. Details are included of the roles and responsibilities of other Category 1 and 2 responder organisations, as defined by the Civil Contingencies Act (CCA) 2004 along with contextual information on national and local response arrangements. Fife Council Major Accident Hazard Pipeline - Emergency Response Plan Major Accident Hazard Pipelines (MAHP) are situated throughout Fife and transfer various gases and chemicals across the region to both major industry sites as well as domestic properties. Separate procedures apply for pipeline emergencies as provided for in the Pipeline Safety Regulations This COMAH external emergency plan should be read in conjunction with the Fife Council "Major Accident Hazard Pipelines - Emergency Response Plan". Fife Council Emergency Centres Plan This plan details Fife Council s arrangements to activate and manage, or support the management of an emergency centre. It is intended to ensure that Fife Council effectively support people affected by an emergency who, for whatever reason, require to be temporarily accommodated in an emergency centre. The plan details the different categories of emergency centres, from an Emergency Reception Centre, the most common centre to temporarily look after people who have been evacuated from any location, to a Survivor Reception Centre, Family & Friend Reception Centre and a Humanitarian Assistance Centre. Fife Council share responsibility for management of these centres with Police Scotland, assisted by other partner agencies and the voluntary sector. The arrangements in the plan are intended to allow Fife Council to deal efficiently and effectively with a large scale evacuation of people from a single or multiple locations. Where circumstances dictate, trained Fife Council staff will deploy to any premises where evacuees are assembled. Fife Local Resilience Partnership Recovery Plan This plan details the process and multi-agency structure to facilitate the recovery from a significant emergency incident affecting the local communities of Fife. The plan is capable of being activated to run alongside the Fife Local Resilience Partnership (LRP) Generic Emergency Response Framework and other organisational emergency response and recovery plans. 13

14 This plan details a full sub-group structure supporting a Recovery Coordinating Group (RCG). The plan is flexible and can be activated in full or in part. Emergency Plans Other Organisations All organisations with a potential role in responding to an emergency incident at an upper tier establishment in Fife hold their own emergency plans and/or Standard Operating Procedures which detail how that particular organisation will manage their own response(s) to an emergency incident. These plans will be activated, as required, by individual responders independently of any activation of this plan. It is quite likely that in the response to a major accident at an upper tier establishment a number of cross organisational emergency plans/procedures will be activated. 3.4 Site Information In line with Regulation 13 of the COMAH Regulations 2015 and due to the fact that Fife has a number of upper tier establishments in its area, each establishment has its own external emergency plan in the form of an annex to this generic external emergency plan. Contained within these annexes is specific site information as provided by the site operator. Information obtained from site operators contains amongst other things; hazardous substances contained on site safe access routes stop points for traffic control around the site (managed by Police Scotland) Forward Control Points (FCP) Rendezvous Points (RVP) location and management of the Emergency Coordination Centre (ECC) For security reasons this information is not available for public viewing and is held centrally by the Emergency Resilience Team along with the site operators. Specific site information can be made available to all emergency responders and other approved organisations upon request. 14

15 SECTION 4 UPPER TIER ESTABLISHMENTS & POTENTIAL HAZARDS 4.1 Upper Tier Establishments in Fife The following is a list of the current upper tier establishments within Fife: Shell Fife NGL Plant, Mossmorran ExxonMobil Fife Chemical & Ethylene Plant, Mossmorran Shell Fife NGL Marine Terminal, Braefoot Bay ExxonMobil Marine Terminal, Braefoot Bay Diageo Leven Diageo Cluny Bond This external emergency plan is based around major accident hazards identified by site operators in their safety reports submitted to the competent authority. The aim of the plan is to ensure an efficient, proportionate and effective multi-agency emergency response to a major accident occurring at any of the above upper tier establishment within the Fife Council area 4.2 Site Hazards & Notification to the Public Regulation 17 of the COMAH Regulations 2015 stipulates that the competent authority must make certain information available to the public, including by electronic means, in relation to every establishment; a. the name of the operator and the address of the establishment b. confirmation that the COMAH Regulations 2015 apply to the establishment c. an explanation in simple terms of the activity or activities undertaken at each establishment d. the hazard classification of the relevant dangerous substances involved at the establishment which could give rise to the major accident, with an indication of their principle dangerous characteristics in simple terms e. general information about how the public will be warned, if necessary, and adequate information about the appropriate behaviour in the event of a major accident or an indication of where that information can be accessed electronically f. the date of the last site visit carried out further to a programme for routine inspections and where more detailed information about the inspection and the related inspection plan can be obtained upon request g. details of where further relevant information can be obtained. 15

16 The competent authority has set up a web-based system on the HSE website for the provision of public information and is under the heading COMAH Establishments in your Area. The link to the HSE website and that public information can be access HERE. 4.3 Major Accident Hazard Pipelines Major Accident Hazard Pipelines (MAHP), often providing feedstock to or exporting products from upper tier establishments and are not subject to the COMAH Regulations. Separate procedures apply for pipeline emergencies as provided for in the Pipeline Safety Regulations This plan should be read in conjunction with the "Major Accident Hazard Pipelines - Emergency Response Plan" prepared by Fife Council. 4.4 Major Accident Under the COMAH Regulations 2015 a major accident is defined as: an occurrence such as a major emission, fire or explosion resulting from uncontrolled developments in the course of an operation of any establishment to which the 2015 Regulations apply, and leading to serious danger to human health or the environment (whether immediate or delayed) inside or outside the establishment, and involving one or more dangerous substances The terms major accident, major accident hazard and major accident scenario are used frequently in the guidance supporting the COMAH Regulations Whilst major accident is defined (as above), major accident hazard concerns the potential for a major accident and a major accident scenario addresses the circumstances that could lead to a major accident happening. An occurrence will be a major accident if it meets the following three conditions; a) it results from uncontrolled developments at an establishment to which the Regulations apply b) it leads to serious danger to human health or to the environment, inside or outside the establishment; and c) it involves one or more dangerous substance defined in the Regulations, irrespective of the quantity involved. These conditions are expanded upon hereafter. 4.5 Uncontrolled Developments An uncontrolled development may be due to internal or external factors the operator is unable to control or has lost the opportunity or ability to control. External factors could, for example, be adverse weather conditions such as lightning or flooding. Uncontrolled developments originating on site would be events which escalate so that they are outside the normal operating conditions over which control may be exercised. 4.6 Serious Danger The occurrence must have the potential to cause serious danger but it is not necessary for the danger to result in harm or injury. 16

17 Whether an event leads to serious danger will depend on factors specific to the activity and the incident. For instance, if a substance toxic to people or the environment is released from its primary containment through a purpose-built scrubbing system, this may not lead to serious danger, even though it was an uncontrolled development. However, the same release direct to the atmosphere might and would then count as a major accident. Serious danger to human health means a risk of death, physical injury or harm to health, for example; a) a substantial number requiring medical attention b) some people seriously injured, requiring prolonged treatment Any incident resulting in serious danger will have the potential to cause death but it will not necessarily do so. The effect may be immediate or delayed. For example, respiratory distress may follow some hours after exposure to a toxic gas. There may be other circumstances when the harm occurs even further in the future. The important point is that the harm arose from a single acute exposure, release or event. 4.7 Major Accident to the Environment An incident will also be a major accident if it results in serious danger, whether realised or potential, to the natural or built environment. The effect may be immediate or delayed and may sometimes be relatively long-lasting but not necessarily irreversible. Operators should consider the potential widespread loss or damage to the general environment as well as the risk of adverse effects on a rare, unique or otherwise valued component of our natural or built environment. Serious danger to the environment includes accidents with the potential to result in; a. the death or adverse effects on local populations of species or organisms, with lower thresholds for high-value or protected species b. contamination of drinking water supplies, ground or groundwater c. damage to designated areas, habitats or populations of species within the areas d. damage to listed buildings e. damage to widespread habitats; f. damage to the marine or aquatic environment 4.8 Dangerous Substances It is not necessary for the dangerous substances to cause serious danger but it must play a part in the chain of events leading to danger. The substance that ultimately causes the harm may not be a dangerous substance in COMAH terms, but such substances can still cause serious danger to the environment, for example through releases into water. An example is an explosion or fire involving a dangerous substance that leads to vessel failure and the release of a non-comah substance that could then cause harm. 17

18 SECTION 5 ROLES & RESPONSIBILITIES 5.1 Site Operators Regulation 8 of the COMAH Regulations 2015 stipulates that every operator of an upper tier establishment must prepare a safety report demonstrating that a major accident prevention policy and a safety management system for implementing it has been put into effect. The site operator must also demonstrate that any major accident hazards and possible major accident scenarios in relation to the establishment have been identified and that the necessary measures have been taken to prevent such accidents and to limit the consequences to human health and the environment. Site operators must also demonstrate that adequate safety and reliability have been taken into account in the design, construction, operation and maintenance of any installation, storage facility, equipment and infrastructure connected with the establishment s operations which are linked to major accident hazards inside the establishment. The must also provide sufficient information to the competent authority to enable decisions to be made regarding the siting of new activities or developments around establishments. Importantly, in connection with this Fife Council plan, the site operator must also demonstrate that an internal emergency plan has been prepared, which includes sufficient information to enable an external emergency plan to be prepared. Through dialogue with site operators, information has been provided to Fife Council to allow for the preparation of this external emergency plan. The purpose of this dialogue and interaction is to allow for both emergency plans to dovetail leading to an effective and integrated emergency management response to any major accident. Following a major accident, Regulation 26 of the COMAH Regulations 2015, the operator of the establishment where the accident occurred must, as soon as practicable; a) inform the competent authority of the occurrence of the accident b) Provide the competent authority with the following information as soon as it becomes available; i. the circumstances of the accident ii. the dangerous substances involved iii. the data available for assessing the consequences of the accident on human health, the environment and property; and iv. the emergency measures taken c) inform the competent authority of the steps it is envisaged are required in order to mitigate the medium-tern and long-term consequences of the accident and prevent any recurrence of such an accident d) update any information provided if further investigation reveals additional facts. Included within the emergency measures taken following a major accident and specific to the activation of this external emergency plan, the site operator will undertake the following actions; Alert the emergency services 18

19 5.2 Police Scotland Take initial action as required to mitigate and prevent any escalation of incident Activate the internal emergency plan Identify an Incident Management Team Activate the Emergency Coordination Centre (ECC) Take an immediate head count of staff, contractors and visitors Provide information on known casualties Ensure a detailed site plan is available for emergency responders Provide technical advice and support to the emergency responders Providing accurate information to responders in connection with dangerous substances/chemicals stored or processed in affected areas Maintain an emergency management overview of the incident to conclusion, in liaison with the emergency responders The role and responsibilities of Police Scotland encompass the protection of life and property and coordination of all responding agencies. In responding to any major accident at any COMAH site, the Police responsibilities may be summarised as follows; The saving of life in conjunction with the other emergency services Call out or place essential services on stand-by Coordination of emergency services and other responders during emergency phase Appointment of a Police Incident Officer Coordination of public safety measures off-site, including potential evacuation of areas at risk in consultation with other emergency responders Control of access and egress to the site and local traffic management including the staffing of traffic control points, diversions and roads closures Collation and dissemination of casualty information The protection and preservation of the scene The investigation of the incident in conjunction with other investigative bodies where applicable Identification of the dead on behalf of the Procurator Fiscal who is the principal investigator where fatalities are involved 19

20 The restoration of normality at the earliest opportunity 5.3 Scottish Fire & Rescue Service The fundamental functions of the Scottish Fire & Rescue Service (SFRS) are: to save life to protect property to render humanitarian services The role of the SFRS within this plan embraces all of the following responsibilities: Rescue of trapped casualties Preventing further escalations of the incident by tackling fires, dealing with released chemicals and other hazardous situations Information gathering and hazard assessment to give advice to the other emergency responders and therefore provide advice around potential evacuations Liaison with Police Scotland and the on-site Incident Response Team regarding the provision of an inner cordon around the immediate hazard area to enable the fire service to exercise control Liaison with the Scottish Ambulance Service (SAS) Incident Officer and the Medical Incident Officer (MIO) with regard to rendering immediate medical assistance and the priority evacuation of injured persons The safety of all personnel within the inner cordon Consideration of the environmental impact resulting from the incident and the action to be taken to minimise this Assisting Police Scotland with the recovery of bodies Participating in investigations as appropriate and preparing reports and evidence for inquiries Stand-by during non-emergency recovery phase to ensure continued safety at and surrounding the incident scene. 5.4 Scottish Ambulance Service The roles and responsibilities of the Scottish Ambulance Service can be summarised as follows; Save life and provide immediate care for patients at the scene of the incident and in transit to hospital. Alert Hospital Services and other NHS agencies. 20

21 5.5 NHS Fife Manage clinical decontamination for people affected by hazardous substances prior to their evacuation from the scene. Evacuate, where practicable, the injured from the scene in order of medical priority. Arrange and ensure the most appropriate transport for the injured to the receiving hospital(s). Supply patient care equipment to the scene of a major incident. Transport essential medical staff and their equipment to the scene. Alert the British Red Cross and St Andrew s Ambulance Association and co-ordinate their work in support of the SAS. Provide and maintain communications equipment for key medical staff and voluntary organisations at the scene. Restore the Service to normality*. *includes a requirement to maintain the continuity of mission critical activities. NHS Fife is responsible for meeting the health care requirements needs of any person affected by a major accident at an upper tier establishment. During an emergency incident there may be occasions where the level of NHS Fife involvement is heightened which places additional strain on existing resources dealing with the general health care needs of Fife residents. Where this strain on resources dictates, NHS Fife will implement their Major Incident Plan. Casualties removed from any upper tier establishment will be transferred to a Control Hospital which in the case of Fife is the Victoria Hospital, Kirkcaldy. There may be occasions where the Control Hospital authorises casualties to be transferred to other hospitals but that will be dependent on the prevailing circumstances. The responsibilities of NHS Fife following a major accident at an upper tier establishment can be summarised as follows: Address the care and health needs for all affected by incident Alert key personnel within the Control Hospital and surrounding hospitals, as necessary Appoint a Medical Incident Officer (MIO) and Medical Team to attend on site, if required Activate NHS Fife Major Incident Plan, where appropriate Liaise with the other emergency responders Liaise with NHS Scotland Resilience Team, if required Provide Public Health advice, as required 21

22 Liaise with Voluntary Organisations, as required NHS Fife has a responsibility to safeguard the public who may be at risk from the possible effects of airborne or waterborne hazards resulting for any major accident. In the event that injuries / illness are linked to the possibility of communicable disease, chemical or toxic material, the Duty Consultant in Public Health Medicine (CPHM) should be contacted. The Duty CPHM will undertake assessment and investigation of any public health hazards and take appropriate action, including advice to the public in conjunction with other agencies. 5.6 Fife Council Fife Council has a statutory obligation to compile this external emergency plan based upon information provided by the site operator and all key responders to a major accident. The Council s primary role is to provide support to the emergency services. The Duty Emergency Resilience Officer (ERO) will act as the initial point of contact in regard to the notification of any major accident at an upper tier establishment and he/she will coordinate the initial Fife Council response. A Local Authority Liaison Officer (LALO) will be identified and will attend at the site Emergency Coordination Centre (ECC) to liaise with the Site Main Controller (SMC) and other emergency responders. In response to a major accident at an upper tier establishment, Fife Council s response can be summarised as follows: Identify the necessary Fife Council services required to assist and support the emergency services Ensure appropriate incident management arrangements are in place Deploy a LALO to the on-site ECC Activate Fife Council Generic Emergency Plan, if required Activate Fife Council Emergency Centre Plan, if required Manage the recovery phase of the incident, as required Facilitate and coordinate a structured debrief to examine the off-site emergency response to the reported major accident Fife Council also has responsibility for reviewing, testing and updating this external emergency plan in line with COMAH Regulations 2015 and resulting from any major accident at an upper tier establishment in connection with lessons learned following the debrief of the incident. Following a major accident at an upper tier establishment, Fife Council also has the responsibility to inform persons likely to be affected of; a) the accident which has occurred b) where relevant, the measures undertaken to mitigate the consequences. Where a major accident has occurred at an upper tier establishment, the Public 22

23 Information Zone (PIZ) area can assist in identifying people likely to be affected. Fife Council will look to determine, with advice from the competent authority and other specialists, such as the NHS Fife Consultant in Public Health Medicine (CPHM), who is likely to be affected. 5.7 The Competent Authority The Health & Safety Executive (HSE) and the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) work together as the joint Competent Authority (CA) for upper tier establishments in Scotland. A memorandum of understanding, available on the HSE website, sets out how the organisations work together. The arrangements ensure that; a) appropriate expertise on health & safety and the environment is brought to bear on the regulation of major hazards b) activities of HSE and SEPA, in relation to duties under the Regulations are coordinated, consistent, transparent, targeted and proportionate, c) the possibility of conflicting requirements being placed on operators is reduced d) HSE and SEPA will collaborate on issues of common interest, so avoiding duplicating activity for themselves and for operators. The HSE not only have an advisory role following any major accident but also an investigatory role post-accident to determine the cause and liability for such occurrences. The HSE also ensure that site operators maintain detailed and accurate on-site safety reports and internal emergency plans, ensuring an effective and appropriate response to a major accident occurring on site. The HSE also undertake a rigorous inspection programme of upper tier establishments. The HSE can issue Improvement and Stop Notices to COMAH site operators where a breach of the regulations has occurred. SEPA is responsible for environmental protection in Scotland and adopts an integrated approach to the protection and enhancement of water, air and land and associated natural resources. Additionally, SEPA has powers to prevent, minimize or reduce pollution of the environment and enforces environmental legislation. 5.8 Voluntary Aid Organisations The support of voluntary aid organisations may be required during the response to a major accident at an upper tier establishment. The following organisations may be mobilised to assist the emergency services or general public: Royal Voluntary Service British Red Cross St. Andrews First Aid Radio Amateurs Emergency Network (RAYNET) 23

24 6.1 Alert Notification SECTION 6 INCIDENT MANAGEMENT PLAN ACTIVATION Site Alarm Systems All upper tier establishments in Fife have fixed alarm systems to give warning of any major accidents that do occur. Detailed procedures around activation of these alarm systems are contained within on-site safety reports and internal emergency plans. The alarms include a variety of audible and visual alarm systems, activated automatically or manually, tested at regular intervals to ensure reliability. Notifying the Emergency Services Some upper tier establishments have direct telephone links to both the Scottish Fire & Rescue Service (SFRS) and Police Scotland to provide early warning of a major accident. Notwithstanding, each upper tier establishment has a procedure in place for identified personnel working within the establishment to contact the emergency services via the 999 network. Again details of these procedures are contained within the internal emergency plan. Through a more structured approach to formally debriefing training events, live play exercises that test both the internal and external emergency plans, along with formal debriefs following real events, safeguard protocols are now in place that have facilitated closer information sharing between all key emergency responders. Therefore, where notification of a major accident is made to one of the blue light services, processes exist to ensure the other emergency services are notified, as required. 6.2 Declaration of a Major Accident The term major accident is used frequently in the guidance for the COMAH Regulations A major accident within the Regulations is defined as; an occurrence such as a major emission, fire or explosion resulting from uncontrolled developments in the course of an operation of any establishment to which the 2015 Regulations apply, and leading to serious danger to human health or the environment (whether immediate or delayed) inside or outside the establishment, and involving one or more dangerous substances Where the operator of an upper tier establishment declares a major accident, their internal emergency plan will be activated which will include notification to the emergency services. This will in turn initiate an immediate response from the required emergency services and other key responders as outlined within this external emergency plan. 6.3 Declaration of a Major Incident The term major incident should not be confused with a major accident in terms of the COMAH Regulations A major incident is defined within the Scottish Government Paper Preparing Scotland Guidance on Preparing for Emergencies as any emergency which requires the implementation of special arrangements by any of the emergency services or other key responders for the; 24

25 initial treatment, rescue and transport of a large number of casualties direct or indirect involvement of large numbers of people handling of large numbers of enquiries from the public or news media requirement for large scale combined resources of two or more emergency services mobilisation and management of the emergency services and supporting organisations joint activity to protect life, reduce serious injury or prevent homelessness for a large number of people. Where necessary, declaration of a major incident will be made by any of the key responders dependent upon the nature of the incident and impact upon one or more of the response organisations. Where one of the responding organisations declares a major incident but it is not considered to be a major incident for other organisations, the other agencies will provide appropriate support to effectively manage the incident. 6.4 Site Operators Response Actions Immediately on declaration of a major accident the site operator will activate their internal emergency plan. A Site Incident Controller (SIC) will be identified who will deploy to the immediate scene of the incident. The site Emergency Coordination Centre (ECC) will be activated and a Site Main Controller (SMC) identified. The SMC will attend at the ECC and will liaise with the staff from the emergency services and other key responder agencies. The initial response actions from the site operators will include; alerting the emergency services activate the internal emergency plan take all reasonable mitigation measures to prevent an escalation of the incident identify a Site Incident Controller and Site Main Controller activate the Emergency Coordination Centre (ECC) account for all personnel, contractors and visitors collect and provide information on known casualties ensure a detailed site plan is available for the emergency responders provide accurate information to responders in connection with dangerous substances/chemicals stored or processed in affected areas provide technical advice and support to the emergency responders maintain an emergency management overview of the major accident to conclusion in conjunction with the emergency responders 25

26 In addition to the foregoing, following a major accident, the site operator must as soon as practicable; inform the competent authority as soon as it becomes available, provide the competent authority information around the circumstances of the accident, the dangerous substance involved and the data available for assessing the consequences of the accident on human health, the environment and property the emergency measures taken what anticipated steps are to be taken to mitigate the medium-term and longterm consequences of the accident and prevent a recurrence of such an accident update the competent authority on any information where investigation reveals additional facts. 6.5 Police Scotland Response Actions The police service is responsible for coordinating the emergency response to a major accident. A Police Incident Officer (PIO) will deploy to the site ECC and liaise directly with the Site Main Controller and representatives from the other key emergency responders. The Command & Control structure adopted by Police Scotland will facilitate the deployment of appropriate police resources to the incident in liaison with the PIO. Although not exhaustive, following the report of a major accident, the response actions from Police Scotland will include; Provide an initial assessment of the incident in line with SAD CHALETS Ensure the appropriate Rendezvous and Forward Control Points are in place Coordinate the overall emergency response In liaison with the Scottish Fire & Rescue Service, ensure that inner and outer cordons are in place and appropriately staffed Coordinate the required off site public safety implications e.g. evacuation procedures Enforce traffic management around the site, including stop points and access/egress to the site Collate casualty information Support media management and public information arrangements, as required Conduct investigation into circumstances of the incident, including scene management and dealing with fatalities, if applicable 26

27 6.6 Scottish Fire & Rescue Service (SFRS) Response Actions The Scottish Fire & Rescue Service (SFRS) will deploy at the immediate scene of the incident and take the necessary action to mitigate any escalation. A Fire Operational Commander will attend at the scene of the incident, whilst a Fire Incident Commander will attend at the site ECC and liaise directly with the Site Main Controller and senior representatives from the other responding organisations. Although not exhaustive, following the report of a major accident, the response actions from the SFRS will include; Through the initial responding personnel provide an initial assessment of the incident Ensure the appropriate Rendezvous and Forward Control Points are in place Rescue of trapped or injured casualties, where there is an immediate danger to life Take initial action as required to prevent any further escalation of the incident In liaison with the police, ensure that inner and outer cordons are in place and appropriately staffed Obtain a site plan from the site operators Consider CHEMET information and the potential impact on the immediate and wider environment Assist in any subsequent investigation into cause of incident Stand-by during recovery phase to ensure continued safety to those required to enter scene 6.7 Scottish Ambulance Service (SAS) Response Actions The Scottish Ambulance Service (SAS), in liaison with the SFRS and the on-site medical response team, will provide the initial clinical care for all those affected by the incident. An Ambulance Incident Officer (AIO) will be appointed who will deploy to the scene of the incident and liaise with the Site Incident Controller (SIC) and other emergency responders. As the incident progresses and availability of resources permits, a member of the SAS will also attend the ECC to liaise with the other key emergency responders and Site Main Controller (SMC). The response actions of the SAS, following a major accident, will be as follows; Save life and provide immediate care for patients at the scene of the incident and in transit to hospital. Alert Hospital Services and other NHS agencies. Manage clinical decontamination for people affected by hazardous substances prior to their evacuation from the scene. 27

28 Evacuate, where practicable, the injured from the scene in order of medical priority. Arrange and ensure the most appropriate transport for the injured to the receiving hospital(s). Supply patient care equipment to the scene of a major incident. Transport essential medical staff and their equipment to the scene. Alert the British Red Cross and St Andrew s Ambulance Association and co-ordinate their work in support of the SAS. Provide and maintain communications equipment for key medical staff and voluntary organisations at the scene. Restore the Service to normality*. *includes a requirement to maintain the continuity of mission critical activities. 6.8 NHS Fife Response Actions NHS Fife is responsible for ensuring that the health care needs of anyone affected by a major accident at all Fife upper tier establishments. The nearest hospital to the emergency incident will generally be the Control Hospital directing transport and care of casualties. In the case of Fife itself, the usual designated Control Hospital will be the Victoria Hospital, Kirkcaldy. Although not exhaustive, following the report of a major accident, the response actions from the NHS Fife will include; Provide immediate health care requirements for all affected by incident Alert key personnel within the Control Hospital and surrounding hospitals, as necessary Appoint a Medical Incident Officer (MIO) and Medical Team to attend on site, if required Activate Fife NHS Major Incident Plan, if necessary Liaise with the other emergency responders Liaise with NHS Scotland Resilience Team, if required Lead on and provide Public Health advice, as required Liaise with Voluntary Organisations, as required 6.9 Fife Council Response Actions Fife Council s primary role in responding to a major accident at an upper tier establishment is to provide support to the emergency services. The Duty Emergency Resilience Officer (ERO) will act as the initial point of contact in regard to the notification of a major accident on site and he/she will coordinate the initial Fife Council response. 28

29 A Local Authority Liaison Officer (LALO) will be identified and will attend at the site ECC to liaise with the Site Main Controller (SMC) and other emergency responders. Although not exhaustive, following the report of a major accident, the response actions from Fife Council will include; Identify the necessary Fife Council services required to assist and support the emergency services and overall emergency response Ensure appropriate incident management arrangements are in place Deploy LALO to the on-site Emergency Coordination Centre (ECC) Activate Fife Council Generic Emergency Plan, if required Activate Fife Council Designated Reception Centre plan, if required Manage the recovery phase of the incident, as necessary Upon conclusion of and recovery from a major accident, facilitate and coordinate a structured debrief to examine the external emergency response. Following a major accident at an upper tier establishment, Fife Council also has the responsibility to inform persons likely to be affected of; a) the accident which has occurred b) where relevant, the measures undertaken to mitigate the consequences. Where a major accident has occurred at an upper tier establishment, the Public Information Zone (PIZ) area can assist in identifying people likely to be affected. Fife Council will look to determine, with advice from the competent authority and other specialists, such as the NHS Fife Consultant in Public Health Medicine (CPHM), who is likely to be affected The Competent Authority The HSE not only have an advisory role following any major accident but also an investigatory role post-accident to determine the cause and liability for such occurrences. Operators must report any major accidents to the competent authority. They must also provide any information the competent authority needs to investigate the accident. Following a major accident the competent authority must; Ensure that any urgent, medium term and long term measures which may prove necessary, are taken Collect by inspection, investigation or other appropriate means the information necessary for a full analysis of the technical, organisational and managerial aspects of the accident Take appropriate action to ensure that the operator takes any necessary 29

30 remedial measures; and Make recommendations on future preventative measures. The competent authority must conduct a thorough investigation into the accident, the immediate and underlying causes, and the effectiveness of the emergency measures. Any remedial measures will need to be proportionate to the harm caused by the accident and the risk of continuing harm to people and the environment. The competent authority will ensure these measures are taken. Recommendations for future preventative measures are considered as part of the investigative process and may not be available until sometime after the accident. Where a major accident occurs which meets the criteria set out in Schedule 5 of the Regulations, the competent authority must as soon as it is practicable, and in any event within one year of the date of the accident, provide the European Commission with the following information; a) confirmation that the accident occurred in Great Britain and the name and address of the competent authority b) the date, time and place of the accident, including the full name of the operator and the address of the establishment concerned c) a brief description of the circumstances of the accident, including the dangerous substances involved and the immediate consequences on human health and the environment d) a brief description of the emergency measures taken and the immediate precautions necessary to prevent recurrence; and e) the results of the competent authority s analysis and recommendations Additional Key Responders Depending on the nature of the incident, there may well be the requirement to notify additional key responders to ensure an appropriate level of response to safely manage the incident through to the recovery phase. Whilst the following list is not exhaustive additional key responders may include: Maritime & Coastguard Agency Forth Ports Authority Utility Providers Procurator Fiscal Network Rail Airport Operators Harbour Authorities Highway Agencies 30

31 6.12 Public Information Zone Regulation 18 of the COMAH Regulations 2015 requires the operator of an upper tier establishment to ensure that; a) every person who is likely to be in the area, notified to the operator by the competent authority as being an area within which, in the opinion of the competent authority, persons are liable to be affected by a major accident occurring at the establishment; and b) every school, hospital or other area of public use which is in the area as notified by the competent authority at a) above; is sent in the most appropriate form, without having to request it, clear and intelligible information on safety measures and requisite behaviour in the event of a major accident at the establishment. The purpose of the information for the Public Information Zone (PIZ) is two-fold: firstly, to provide information about the major accident hazards and safety measures in place for people who could be affected by a major accident at an upper tier establishment; secondly, to provide information about what they should do in the event of a major accident. The information must be provided by the operator who must be proactive in providing that information without waiting for the public involved to ask for it. The duty extends to premises liable to be affected by a major accident - e.g. - areas of public use so that those in charge of them can take the necessary action in respect of their employees and visitors in the event of a major accident Determination of Public Information Zone The competent authority determines the PIZ area around the establishment. It is determined by taking into account of both the likelihood and effects of possible major accidents at the establishment. It is set on the basis that people outside it are not at significant immediate risk from major accidents, although they could be if the accident escalated. The PIZ does not cover areas where a major accident might cause solely environmental damage Warning & Informing - Public Information Zone Information required to be contained within the PIZ must detail what people should do in the event of a major accident. It must take into consideration everyone who could be in the PIZ should a major accident occur. This will include people passing through the area, for example visiting other premises within the PIZ. In some circumstances it will be straightforward to contact people in the PIZ. In other circumstances it may be necessary or realistic to contact everyone individually, such as those visiting shops, leisure facilities and other attractions. An important aspect of the COMAH Regulations 2015 is requirement that the operator consults with the local authority on safety measures and behaviour required in the event of a major accident. As such, the PIZ information is disseminated in consultation with Fife Council who has assisted in identifying relevant postcodes of potentially affected addresses. The information which requires to be notified is: the establishment activity is that which has been notified to the competent authority: 31

32 the nature of the major accident hazard; and the safety measures and the action to be taken in the event of a major accident. The advice provided within Fife contains adequate information on how any public at risk will be warned and kept informed in the event of any accident and the proposed actions to be taken. It should be noted that for staff at the plant and casual visitors to the site, safety measures are the responsibility of the individual site management and that on-site procedures exist to cover such eventualities. Responsibility for alerting the public off-site in the event of an accident lies with the site operator. Arrangements for warning the public at risk from an on-site emergency with potential off-site consequences vary with some operators preferring to inform notifiable categories by automated telephone dialling schemes, some by site perimeter siren systems and others by relaying pre-recorded messages by vehicle mounted PA systems Public Safety Emergency Broadcasts Following a major accident where there exists the potential for off-site consequences affecting public health, for example, an escape of gas or a plume of smoke, the escape must be notified to the emergency services at the earliest opportunity. The emergency services, primarily through the Police Incident Officer, (PIO) will request that the company warns the public in the Public Information Zone (PIZ) by appropriate methods which have been previously tested. These include automated telephone dialling schemes and site perimeter sirens. In consultation with the PIO and through the assistance of the police, this warning mechanism may also include touring any area at risk, broadcasting an agreed safety message via loudspeaker and advising those at risk what actions they should take. These messages will be reinforced by emergency broadcasts via both local and national media which the police will co-ordinate, through the Police Media Relations Manager. Use will also be made of organisational websites, such as Fife Direct managed by Fife Council, to alert people to the on-going situation and provide appropriate advice, with links in place to other key responder websites. People living and working in the vicinity of the PIZ will have received prior information from the operator including recommended actions in the event of an incident at the establishment based on the message of Go in- Stay in-tune in. Additional safety measures might include switching off gas fires/boilers/cookers and other sources of ignition, sheltering indoors, evacuating a hazard area or diverting from certain roads. If evacuation is necessary the direction of travel, route to follow and location of the designated Emergency Reception Centre must be provided. Police Scotland will have the primary role in overseeing any such evacuation, in consultation with Fife Council in their role of activating their Emergency Centres Plan. 32

33 6.16 Media & Public Communications Following the report of a major accident at an upper tier establishment there will potentially be significant media interest and activity. Normally the PIO will have primacy around any media release during the initial stages, in consultation with the site operators and other emergency responders. To that end, the PIO will require the assistance of the Police Media Relations Manager and that being the case, it may be necessary for the media relations manager to deploy to the site ECC. Depending on the scale and circumstances of the particular incident a Media Briefing Centre (MBC) may require to be established. The MBC will be organised by the Police Media Relations Manager, in consultation with the site operators and other emergency responders, as appropriate. Should the scale of the incident dictate, there may be a requirement to establish a Public Communications Group (PCG) to handle and respond to all media enquiries. Through the East of Scotland Regional Resilience Partnership (RRP) there is an East RRP PCG with a dedicated activation protocol. Where the major accident is such that there is wide-spread media interest, this protocol should be referred to be the key responders. The PCG comprises of membership from the key responders and will be required to link closely with any on site media team to ensure there is full coordination of any media releases Emergency Coordination Centre Whilst the COMAH Regulations 2015 do not specifically refer to an Emergency Coordination Centre (ECC), every upper tier establishment in Fife has such a facility to allow for the appropriate coordination of the response to the major accident. Personnel from the upper tier establishment and key emergency responders, as resources dictate, will attend the ECC to coordinate the response to the major accident. In the event of the ECC being unavailable due to the nature of the incident, an alternative ECC will require to be identified by the Site Main Controller. Key responders within the ECC will be identified by clearly identifiable tabards Site Main Controller (SMC will be on tabard) Police Incident Officer (Quartered Blue and White) Fire Incident Commander (Quartered Red and White) Ambulance Liaison Officer (Quartered Green and White) Local Authority Liaison Officer (Quartered Orange and White) It should be noted that the Scottish Ambulance Service (SAS) direct the Ambulance Incident Officer to the immediate scene of the incident and will not initially send a resource to the ECC. As the incident progresses and availability of resources permits, a member of the SAS will also attend the ECC to liaise with the other key emergency responders and Site Main Controller (SMC). To assist in the overall coordination of the response, those organisations operating within the ECC will have access to; Communications systems for both internal and external communications Site plans and maps 33

34 Logging systems for recording the incident in real-time List of all personnel on site 6.18 Forward Control Point Sources of technical information and advice All other relevant information provided by the site operator to assist in an effective and coordinated emergency response. Depending on the location of the incident, the first emergency response vehicle to approach the scene will become the Forward Control Point (FCP) and be the only vehicle displaying an illuminated blue revolving beacon. The location should permit visual observation but will be determined by the nature of the incident and hazards present, ensuring the safety of all responders is not compromised. The FCP will be the location where the operational deployment of resources to the immediate incident scene is coordinated. Details of this coordination will be fed-back to the overall incident coordination within the ECC Rendezvous Point All upper tier establishments in Fife have a pre-determined Rendezvous Point (RVP) and these are detailed in the individual Annexes attached to this generic plan. If the designated RVP is unavailable, an alternative RVP will be established. The location of the alternative RVP will be dependent upon the nature of the incident and prevailing weather conditions, such as wind direction and speed Debriefing of Incident Once a major accident has been managed and concluded, Fife Council will facilitate and coordinate a formal debrief of the incident to examine the external emergency response. The debrief will involve the site operator and key responders, and will be held as soon as practicable following the conclusion of the incident but ideally within 7 10 working days. A formal debrief report will thereafter be compiled highlighting any lessons learned as a result of the incident and will include specific action points for key responders to consider, taking remedial action where appropriate. It is envisaged this formal debriefing process will not only enhance but improve the emergency response to any future incidents at upper tier establishments in Fife. 34

35 7.1 Contacts SECTION 7 CONTACTS All contact details required for the activation of this plan are held by Fife Council Emergency Resilience Team. Contact details will be made available, as required, following activation of this plan. 35

36 SECTION 8 GLOSSARY OF ABBREVIATIONS AIO Ambulance Incident Officer CA Competent Authority CHEMET Chemical Emergency Meteorological Scheme CCA Civil Contingencies Act 2004 COMAH Control of Major Accident Hazards Regulations 2015 CPHM Consultant in Public Health Medicine ECC Emergency Coordination Centre FCP Forward Control Point HSE Health & Safety Executive GERP General Emergency Response Plan LA Local Authority LALO Local Authority Liaison Officer LRP Local Resilience Partnership MAHP Major Accident Hazard Pipelines MIO Medical Incident Officer ONR Office for Nuclear Regulation PCG Public Communications Group PIO Police Incident Officer PIZ Public Information Zone RCG Recovery Coordinating Group RRP Regional Resilience Partnership RVP Rendezvous Point SAS Scottish Ambulance Service SEPA Scottish Environment Protection Agency SFRS Scottish Fire & Rescue Service SFRS Scottish Fire & Rescue Service SIC Site Incident Controller SMC Site Main Controller SOP Standard Operating Procedure SSSI Site of Special Scientific Interest 36