British APCO’s Post

Chelsea points out a great (and overlooked) opportunity here. You don’t have to be on a technical committee to attend a meeting or to be involved in the code development process. In other words, there are many more ways to have an impact than you might realize. If you are on a technical committee but have challenges with getting others in your community involved, or if you have difficulty getting others to understand how the components of the NFPA #FireandLifeSafetyEcosystem work together, have them join you at a meeting—I bet it will be very eye opening for them and facilitate some necessary and important information exchange. Having more people join these meetings is a great way to educate them on the role of codes and standards locally, to help illustrate why they matter, and to illuminate how seemingly unrelated things need to be connected in order to keep your community safer. The more people in your community who understand the importance of these foundational safety standards and related services, the safer everyone will be.

🚨 Understanding the Basics of the Incident Command System (ICS) 🚨 As professionals involved in emergency response, a solid grasp of the fundamental principles of the Incident Command System (ICS) is paramount for effective action. Let's delve into some key principles that form the backbone of ICS: 1️⃣ Chain of Command: Clarity in the chain of command is essential in any emergency situation. Every responder must know to whom they report and who is responsible for making critical decisions. This ensures swift and coordinated action, minimizing confusion and delays. 2️⃣ Unity of Command: Under the principle of unity of command, each individual within the ICS structure reports to only one supervisor. This prevents conflicting instructions and ensures a cohesive response effort. 3️⃣ Span of Control: Effective management relies on maintaining a manageable span of control. This means limiting the number of individuals one supervisor can effectively manage. By keeping spans of control manageable, clear communication, efficient decision-making, and effective oversight are ensured. 4️⃣ Modular Organization: The modular structure of ICS allows for scalability and adaptability to various incident sizes and complexities. Dividing the response effort into manageable units such as branches, divisions, groups, and units enables efficient resource allocation and coordination. Understanding and implementing these foundational principles lays the groundwork for a successful response to any incident, whether it's a natural disaster, a public health emergency, or a human-caused crisis. Let's continue to foster a culture of preparedness and professionalism in emergency management. Share your thoughts and experiences with ICS principles in the comments below! #IncidentCommandSystem #EmergencyManagement #ICSPrinciples #SafetyFirst #EmergencyResponse #Preparedness #PLCGroupMalaysia

Our Safety Connection series came from grass roots following a branch committee meeting which fortuitously side-tracked to help a member resolve a pressing issue. As the issue on the table was tussled back and forth, experiences were shared, research came to light, and practicalities were discussed. Everybody left with a little more knowledgeable and, for one member in particular, a weight was lifted Soon after, National Office was was asked to develop this idea and our Safety Connection series was born. These are online zoom meetings that enable members from all over the country to connect and discuss a particular topic, question or concern. Our next Safety Connection focuses on Site Specific Safety Plans (SSSPs) and the conversation will be led by Helen Bishell, one of our valued committee members from Bay of Plenty Branch. SSPs * What is their purpose? * Do they add value as a risk management tool? * Is value outweighed by the administrative burden? To register: https://lnkd.in/gr3b65iA #nzism #sssp #heatlhandsafetynz

What should businesses keep in mind to improve the effectiveness of remedial efforts addressing weaknesses in internal procedures and controls? Our Global Crisis Management Handbook discusses: https://lnkd.in/ek-SC8tr #ClearyCrisisManagement #crisismanagement

We’re all aware of the Trump assination attempt - We ask, how could this happen? This incident highlights critical communication gaps that can occur in multiagency operations. A presidential candidate's safety was compromised due to poor communication among law enforcement agencies. The root cause? Lack of radio discipline and use of common communications. In firefighting, we've long recognized the importance of seamless communication. The fire service engages multiagency/unified command on a frequent basis. Here's how we ensure effective communication: 1. Standardized radio protocols across agencies 2. Regular joint training exercises 3. Exercise unified command systems 4. Single point radio frequency cloning 5. Use of mandated National Incident Managment System (NIMS) 6. Use of a clearly communicated incident action plan (IAP) 7. Unify command What law enforcement could improve: 1. Implement interoperable radio systems 2. Conduct cross-agency communication drills 3. Establish clear communicated protocols for high-stakes operations 4. Invest in modern communication technology and frequency allocation 5. Engage and use incident command system postions  6. No independent frequency use between agencies on any incident 7. Stove piped command does not work for interagency operations  Effective communication saves lives. It's time for all emergency services to prioritize this crucial aspect. What are your thoughts on improving inter-agency communication? Let's work together to enhance safety for all emergency responders and the public they serve.

How prepared is your team to handle an incident? Lack of preparedness or familiarity with response plans can be the difference between dealing with an incident effectively or finding yourself in a full-blown crisis. Investing in your team’s training can safeguard your organisation’s integrity, reputation and operational continuity. ℹ️ Read more on the blog: https://lnkd.in/e23awyVn

I used to get frustrated with the amount of incident reports in the system with this... "NFA - No Further Action Required" My philosophy was that there's always something that can be done to prevent a recurrence. Well...most of the time! Sadly, often, the H&S team had to get out and about to make sure the 'NFA' was valid. Often it wasn't. Some tips to combat an NFA endemic: - Have a clear Incident Investigation Policy with all key players educated on it, and that includes why, how and when the H&S team follows up and investigates incidents. - Ask managers and H&S Reps to provide an explanation of why NFA is required on their investigations. - Always involve the H&S Rep and the manager in the review coaching as you go. - Use the most obvious 'NFA' miscalls to inform and educate widely. - Make sure any recommended actions are meaningful - if they aren't, it likely was a valid NFA. Is there anything else coming up on incident forms that's frustrating? I'm old enough to remember the bad old days of written incident forms without names & dates? Some businesses still do things that way! 😧 #bricksandamortar #legoandlegal #nfa #incidentresponse #incidentmanagement #healthandsafety

Small business owners along with Community Banks and Credit Unions must be prepared for the unexpected. iTGC's latest article dives into the critical role of having a practical incident response plan for SMBs, outlining how proactive preparedness can minimize damage, ensure regulatory compliance, and build customer trust. Not sure where or how to begin? Read the full article now and discover how iTGC can help you safeguard your business. Then reach out to us for a free consultation and let us guide you to the summit of IT Governance. #SmallBusiness #IncidentResponse #BusinessContinuity #ITGovernance #iTGCConsultants #CommunityBanking #CreditUnions #SMB

Of interest to Quality and Risk managers, CEOs & others. Today saw the publication of the first part of the UK Covid19 inquiry report. https://lnkd.in/eW4fCW6g The sections on Risk Management and Strategy interested me most. There were multiple criticisms of risk management approaches, methodologies , planning and governance, including a failure to consider preventive actions, an adequate variety of scenarios and inadequate review, critical thinking and cross department/organisation co-operation. I was not surprised to read that the overall national risk register and some other documents were classified but I haven't yet found a recommendation that there should be a reconsideration so that less sensitive parts could be published to allow those outside the government, civil service and advisory committees to contribute. At the individual organisation level, there may also be risk assessments and plans that are commercially or security sensitive but a failure to involve sufficient SMEs or decision makers would surely be problematic and, I dare to say, pleading "insufficient resources" after the fact would not look good.