INSARAG EXTERNAL CLASSIFICATION (IEC) CHECKLIST FOR USAR TEAMS Preparedness 1. INSARAG Focal Points 1.1. Does the USAR team have a functional INSARAG focal point? 1.2. Does the USAR team have an operational INSARAG focal point? 2. Decision Making 2.1. Is there an effective communication system between the USAR team and its sponsor to ensure timely decision making with regards to deployment? 2.2. Is the USAR team management included in the deployment decision process? 2.3. Is the USAR team manager consulted on the medical status of team members/dogs? 2.4. Does the USAR team manager have the power of veto matters concerning the team? 2.5. Does the USAR team management monitor maintenance, availability and spot check the equipment, both before and during deployment? 3. Virtual OSOCC 3.1. Are USAR team managers registered users of the VO? 3.2. Is there assigned persons to receive and post information on the VO? 3.3. Is there assigned persons that complete the USAR team Fact Sheet on both the VO and in a hard copy format prior to departure? 3.4. Does the USAR team have the ability to access the VO during transit to the affected country? 4. Deployment Staffing Procedure 4.1. Is there a proven system to select USAR team members for deployment? 4.2. Do the USAR team members undergo a medical screening process immediately prior to departure? 4.3. Do the USAR team's search dogs undergo a veterinary screening process and a microchip control prior to departure? 4.4. Does the USAR team management have a redundancy plan to fill staffing shortages in a timely manner? 5. USAR team Structure 5.1. Is the USAR team organisation structured in accordance with the INSARAG Guidelines with regards to: 5.1.1. Management 5.1.2. Logistics 5.1.3. Search 5.1.4. Rescue 2009 IEC Checklist 1 Ver.01/09
5.1.5. Medical 5.2. Does the USAR team have sufficient members and equipment to work continuously in accordance with the INSARAG Guidelines? (Heavy USAR teams 24 hrs operations for 10 days; Medium USAR team 24 hrs operations / 7 days) 5.3. Is the USAR team capable of being self-sufficient for the of deployment? 6. Training 6.1. does the USAR team have a training program prepares and equips personnel to operate in an international environment, according to the INSARAG Guidelines? 6.2. Does the USAR team have members who are trained to perform RDC and OSOCC functions? 6.3. Is there a continuous skills maintenance program commensurate with the teams classification level? 6.4. Are USAR team and personnel training records updated and maintained? 6.5. Can the USAR team show that the canine search team has passed a test according to the INSARAG guidelines? 7. Communications & Technology 7.1. Does the USAR team have the ability to communicate: 7.1.1. Internally 7.1.2. Externally 7.1.3. Internationally 7.2. Does the USAR team have the ability to access the VO while in the field? 7.2.1. Does the USAR team have the ability to access UNOSAT data? 7.3. Does the USAR team have an ability to use geospatial (GPS, mapping) technology? 8. Documentation 8.1. Do USAR team members have the following personal travel documentation: 8.1.1. Passport with a minimum of 6 months validity and 2 blank pages 8.1.2. Visa (if required and not going to be issued on arrival) 8.1.3. Passport photos x 6 8.1.4. Photocopies of Passport x 4 8.1.5. Record of inoculations/vaccinations required for international travel 8.1.6. Search Dog Health Certificates 8.1.7. Personal issue inventory 8.2. Does the USAR team management have the following team documentation: 2009 IEC Checklist 2 Ver.01/09
8.2.1. USAR team Personnel Manifest 8.2.2. USAR team Fact Sheet 8.2.3. Emergency contacts details of USAR team members 8.2.4. Equipment Manifests 8.2.5. Shippers Declarations of Hazardous Goods 8.2.6. Equipment licenses/insurance documents 8.3. Are there Plan of Action documents in regards to: 8.3.1. Communications 8.3.2. Emergency evacuation 8.3.3. Operations 8.3.4. Safety and security 8.3.5. Logistics 8.3.6. Transportation 9. Contingency Planning 9.1. Does the USAR team have a contingency plan for the repatriation of USAR team members in case of an emergency? (for either medical or personal reasons) 9.2. Is the contingency plan exercised at regular intervals and known by all USAR team members? Mobilisation and Arrival in Affected Country 10. Activation and Mobilisation 10.1. Does the USAR team have the ability to arrive at its designated point of departure within 8 hours of activation? 10.2. Upon activation, is there a contingency plan to replace USAR team members who are absent? 10.3. Is the USAR team Fact Sheet completed and posted on the VO? 10.3.1. Does the USAR team have multiple completed hard copies of the USAR team Fact Sheet for use in the affected country? 10.4. Has the USAR team management gathered information pertaining to the emergency and briefed USAR team members on: 10.4.1. Current situation 10.4.2. Culture 10.4.3. Weather 10.4.4. Safety and security, including potential hazards e.g. Hazmat 10.4.5. Emergency evacuation 10.4.6. Special or un-usual considerations 10.5. Has the USAR team taken action to contact international representatives, other international responders and its own consular authorities (if present)? 11. Arrival and RDC 11.1. Does the USAR team have the knowledge and equipment to set up an initial RDC in accordance with the INSARAG Guidelines? 2009 IEC Checklist 3 Ver.01/09
12. Base of Operations(BoO) 12.1. Does the USAR team select an appropriate BoO in conjunction with LEMA? 12.2. Does the USAR team s BoO provide for the following components: 12.2.1. BoO Management 12.2.2. Shelter for personnel and equipment 12.2.3. Safety and security 12.2.4. Communications 12.2.5. Medical care 12.2.6. Food and water 12.2.7. Sanitation and hygiene 12.2.8. Search dog (waste, security and resting area) 12.2.9. Equipment maintenance and repair area 12.2.10. Waste collection area USAR Operations 13. OSOCC Coordination and Planning 13.1. Does the USAR team set up an initial OSOCC in accordance with the INSARAG Guidelines? 13.2. Does the USAR team perform a Situational Assessment and disseminate the information to the OSOCC? 13.3. Does the USAR team provide daily assessment and search results to OSOCC/LEMA? 13.4. Does the USAR team ensure a representative is present at OSOCC USAR Planning meetings? 13.5. Does the USAR team utilise all INSARAG documentation? 13.6. Does the USAR team management (Leader) exercise continuous command and control over the full range of his/her sites of operation? 14. Operational Capacity 14.1. Does the USAR team conduct operations at a minimum of two separate work sites simultaneously? (not required for Medium USAR teams) 14.2. Does the USAR team demonstrate a crew management system utilised to track personnel accountability? 14.3. Does the USAR team re-supply at a location remote from the BoO 14.4. Does the USAR team have the capacity to operate continuously for 10 days (Heavy USAR teams) or 7 days (Medium USAR teams)? 15. Area Reconnaissance 15.1. Does the USAR team interview locals to gather information? 15.2. Does the USAR team conduct structural assessments? 15.3. Does the USAR team conduct hazard/risk assessment (electricity, security, secondary threats)? 2009 IEC Checklist 4 Ver.01/09
15.4. Does the USAR team indicate the presence of Hazardous Materials and warn responders and the public? 15.5. Does the USAR team correctly utilise the INSARAG Marking System? 16. Search Operations * For Medium USAR Teams, either of the search techniques may be used. 16.1. Does the USAR team consider what search equipment is required to take when they go from the BoO to the site of operations, based on the available information? 16.2. Does the USAR team use and coordinate the search methods in a suitable way? 16.3. Do canines show identifiable victim alert even if the canine handler is out of sight? 16.4. Do canines move over difficult terrain with ease and demonstrate commitment to scent source? 16.5. Does the canine group demonstrate appropriate canine care safety and welfare? 16.6. Can the canine search teams locate people that are buried at least 1m vertically below or laterally away from the canine? 17. Rescue Operations *Separate Work Site: Any work site that requires a USAR team to be assigned to, thus requiring staff and equipment to operate at a different location, whilst continuing to work simultaneously at another separate work site, necessitating stand alone logistical support. Generally an assignment of this sort would last greater than 24 hours. *For Heavy USAR teams, separate work sites must be have separate logistical support. *For Medium USAR teams, continuous work at two sites is not required. 17.1. Does the USAR team conduct rescue operations in confined spaces and have the capability to carry out operations at a minimum of two separate work sites* simultaneously? 17.2. Does the USAR team consider what rescue equipment is required to take, before they depart from the BoO to the site of operations, based on the available information? 17.3. Does the USAR team demonstrate cutting, breaking and breaching through the following evolutions, involving urban debris, concrete walls, floors, columns and beams; structural steel, reinforcing bars and timber, (See Table 1 for dimensions) to rescue trapped victims: 2009 IEC Checklist 5 Ver.01/09
Table 1 Description Heavy USAR team Medium USAR team Concrete walls and 300mm 150mm floors Concrete columns 450mm 300mm and beams Structural steel 6mm Not required Reinforcing bars 20mm Not required (Rebar) Timber 600mm 450mm 17.3.1. Penetrate vertically overhead to a void space 17.3.2. Penetrate laterally into a void space 17.3.3. Penetrate vertically below to a void space using a "dirty" technique (allowing debris to fall into the void space) 17.3.4. Penetrate vertically below to a void space using a "clean" technique (preventing debris from falling into the void space) 17.4. Does the USAR team demonstrate rigging, lifting and moving of structural concrete columns and beams (see Table 2 for dimensions) utilising the following: 17.4.1. Pneumatic lifting equipment 17.4.2. Hydraulic lifting equipment 17.4.3. Winches 17.4.4. Other hand tools 17.4.5. Crane and/or other heavy machinery (See Table 2 for descriptions) Table 2 Description Heavy USAR team Medium USAR team Manual 2.5 metric tons(m/t) 1 metric ton(m/t) Mechanical 20 metric tons(m/t) 12 metric tons(m/t) 17.5. Does the USAR team demonstrate shoring and stabilising of structural elements laterally and vertically, with the use of: 17.5.1. Cribbing and wedges 17.5.2. Window/door shores 17.5.3. Vertical shores 17.5.4. Diagonal shores 17.5.5. Horizontal shores 17.6. Does the USAR team demonstrate technical rope capability to: 17.6.1. Construct and utilise a vertical raising and lowering system 17.6.2. Construct and utilise a traversing system 2009 IEC Checklist 6 Ver.01/09
18. Medical Care 18.1. Does the USAR team provide emergency medical care in confined spaces? 18.2. Is medical care available to USAR team members? 18.3. Does the USAR team provide medical care to victims from the time of access, during extrication to time of hand over? 18.4. Is medical care available to the Search Dogs? 19. Safety Considerations 19.1. Does the USAR team correctly utilise the INSARAG Signalling System? 19.2. Does the USAR team undertake safety measures to ensure safety of rescuers and victims during the conduct of USAR operations? 19.3. Does the USAR team members wear appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) i.e. helmet, eye, ear and respiratory protection and gloves? 19.4. Does the USAR team management maintain a USAR team accident / injury record? 19.5. Is there a contingency plan to evacuate the USAR team members when required? 19.6. Does the USAR team consider the security situation on the sites based on the available information i.e. leaving equipment and dogs unattended? 20. Working with National and International USAR teams The IEC exercise may, when deemed appropriate, introduce the following injects. 20.1. Has the USAR team been trained to work with other USAR teams? 20.2. Does the USAR team appropriately interact with other USAR teams involved in the emergency? In, for instance the case of: 20.2.1. Other USAR teams offering help; 20.2.2. Other USAR teams requesting some specialised equipment; 20.2.3. Other USAR teams requesting a part of the team to help them so that the team must be divided and work side by side with that team. USAR Demobilisation 21. Demobilisation Exit Strategy 21.1. Has the USAR team coordinated its departure with the OSOCC/LEMA and the RDC? 21.2. Has the USAR team completed the USAR team Demobilisation Form? 21.3. Did the USAR team management consult their in country representative on their departure arrangements? 21.4. Did the USAR team management consider what equipment might be handed over to the authorities? 2009 IEC Checklist 7 Ver.01/09
21.5. Did the USAR team management prepare the manifest list (passenger and equipment) taking into consideration donated/ lost items? 21.6. Does the USAR team have a reassignment strategy? End of Checklist. 2009 IEC Checklist 8 Ver.01/09