There are so many different topics which need to be fully acknowledged when attending an
emergency incident, this is especially important when attending a major incident that is
more likely to threaten the public. (Transportation of Hazardous Materials, n.d.) Incidents, for
example a building that is burning can threaten the safety of citizens in its surrounding
areas, or maybe transport incidents such as road traffic collisions could disrupt larger areas,
this would mean that the networks and main routes could be cut off and as a result of this
causing longer queues that will last longer periods of time.
The media are an important aspect when it comes to emergency incidents, and this is
because they can inform the public on any incidents that might have happened through
social media, the television, or newspapers, radio shows or nowadays your phone as if you
have their app then you can get a notification. (For the public's health, 2012) It can very easily
warn the public of events, for example delays in public transport, this can then allow them
to make alternative arrangements so they can sort out another route to get to their
destination. It can also help them to educated themselves on incidents which could affect
their own health and safety, the media would be able to give them a warning to stay away
from the incident, for example when there is a fire like the one back in 2017 at Grenfell
Tower, this one the media covered the story giving new information immediately when they
got it for example if anyone had been rescued, how the public services are dealing with the
situation as well as other information, for example any travel disturbances. It can also help
them to warn of congestion and incidents on the roads, helping them to plan another way
of getting to their destination. Furthermore, it gives them the chance to explain if they were
going somewhere important as to why they are late and if they can give them notice then by
how much they could be.
All of the public services need to make sure that the scene of an incident is going to be safe
for anybody and not damaging or harming the environment or the citizens. (Hollnagel, n.d.)
Some incidents which could be classified as being more dangerous than other ones, no
, matter what the risk is to the public services there needs to be clarity that the area is safe
and no citizens will be placed into danger. It is so crucial that the public is reassured that
they are not in danger nor is the environment either. Furthermore, the quicker the incident
is cleared and all dealt with, the less likely the environment or any of the citizens will come
into danger, this is why it is so important for the publics services to respond and deal with
an issue and be onto it as soon as possible.
Dangers at the scene
Chemical spillages can pose high health risks to not only the public but also the
environment. (Prüss, 1999) If an incident which has included chemical spills has occurred
then the public services would need to work together as a team to discover the most
effective course of action to take control of the incident and to ensure no member of the
public isn’t placed at risk. By law all vehicles that carry a substance which could potentially
be harmful are required to display what is known as a HAZCHEM plate. If an incident were
to occur for whatever reason then these plates would tell the public services which
substances they are having to deal with allowing them to use the best solution using an
Emergency Incident Code (EAC). 2X warns the services which equipment, fire suppressant to
use and if there could be a violent reaction as well as how to get rid of the chemical. 0000 is
the united nations identification number. This can tell you exactly what chemical the vehicle
was carrying. At the bottom a number is supplied in a case a specialist is required. The sign
would also include the hazard symbol so it can warn of the chemicals presence and at
bottom will be held the companies name or logo. If there is a second E present in the EAC
then this is warning that the chemical will harm the public past the local area, the area may
have to be evacuate or instructed to stay within their homes and to keep all windows and
doors securely locked.
Electrical cables are available both above and underground, they are also along with this
responsible for carrying thousands of volts of electricity. (Collins, Gitelman and Jankunis, 2002)
Overground electrical cables can be broken or damaged if there is something like a storm,
air incident as well as train derailments. (Federal Aviation Administration., 2016)
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