Study on the Chemical Accidents Investigation and Effective Response System in Korea 2020

A mass fatality incident occurs when a disaster causes many deaths and the affected country does not have sufficient resources to process the remains of victims. The January 12, 2010 earthquake in Haiti was one such event; the estimated 316,000 deaths overwhelmed the response system of the government. The purpose of this article is to review the challenges relating to mass fatality management in this incident. Findings were collected through interviews of 28 individuals along with personal observation obtained during two visits to Haiti after the earthquake. The article argues that a good understanding of these challenges (eg, aftershocks, debris, movement and tampering with bodies, lack of resources, environmental factors, smell of decomposing bodies, threat of epidemics, unidentified bodies, psychological stress, and looting) is crucial for an effective response and quick recovery in communities affected by mass fatality incidents.The article concludes with recommendations for addressing these challenges.

Download Full-text

Validation of the Early Warning and Response System (EWARS) for dengue outbreaks: Evidence from the national vector control program in Mexico

10.1101/2021.02.23.432448 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

David Benitez-Valladares ◽

Axel Kroeger ◽

Gustavo Sánchez Tejeda ◽

Laith Hussain-Alkhateeb

Keyword(s):

Vector Control ◽

Early Warning ◽

National Level ◽

Indoor Residual Spraying ◽

False Alarms ◽

Outbreak Response ◽

Effective Response ◽

Dengue Outbreak ◽

Response System ◽

Dengue Outbreaks

AbstractBackgroundDuring 2017, twenty health districts (locations) in Mexico implemented a dengue outbreak early warning and response system (EWARS) that uses epidemiological, meteorological and entomological variables (alarm indicators) to predict dengue outbreaks and triggers early response activities.Eleven of these districts were analyzed as they presented reliable information. Nine districts presented outbreak alarms but without subsequent outbreaks (“non-outbreak districts”) and two presented after the alarms dengue outbreaks (“outbreak districts”). This study is concerned with i) if the alarms without outbreaks were false alarms or if the control services had established effective response activities averting an outbreak and ii) if vector control activities can mitigate or even avert dengue outbreaks.MethodsFive components of dengue outbreak response (larval control, entomological studies with water container interventions, focal spraying, indoor residual spraying, space spraying) were quantitatively analyzed across two groups (”outbreak districts” and “non-outbreak districts”).ResultsThe average coverage of vector control and responses were higher in non-outbreak districts and across all five components. In the “outbreak districts” the response activities started late and were of much lower intensity compared to “non-outbreak districts”. District vector control teams demonstrated diverse compliance with local guidlines for ‘initial’, ‘early’ and ‘late’ responses to outbreak alarms which could explain the different outcomes observed following the outbreak alarms.Conclusionfindings from this study plausibly demonstrates important operational scenarios when succeeding or failing alarms signals generated by EWARS at national level. This study presents evidence warranting for further investigation into the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of EWARS using gold-standard designs.

Download Full-text

U.S. APPROACH TO IMPLEMENTING IMO GUIDELINES ON PLACES OF REFUGE1

International Oil Spill Conference Proceedings ◽

10.7901/2169-3358-2005-1-305 ◽

2005 ◽

Vol 2005 (1) ◽

pp. 305-309 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Paul Albertson

Keyword(s):

Coast Guard ◽

Maritime History ◽

Real Thing ◽

Effective Response ◽

Response System ◽

National Response ◽

Safety Committees ◽

Oil Tanker ◽

The U.S

ABSTRACT When the oil tanker Prestige broke apart and sank off the coast of Spain in November 2002, it joined an infamous line of environmental catastrophes in maritime history. The way in which the Prestige incident unfolded and, in particular, the denial of a place of refuge for the tanker intensified existing pressures on the IMO to finalize and adopt guidelines intended to assist all concerned parties in dealing with similar circumstances. At the 23rd Assembly, the IMO answered by adopting two resolutions on the issue. These resolutions offer excellent planning, preparedness, and response guidelines and a framework for effectively dealing with the next Prestige. The IMO guidelines are compatible with the U.S. National Response System and existing laws designed to protect the environment, public health, and welfare. As such, their implementation requires neither regulation nor significant adjustments to U.S. policy. With few exceptions, the National Response System should assimilate the IMO guidelines. Specifically, Area Committees and Harbor Safety Committees should plow the IMO guidelines into current planning, preparedness, and response activities in order to ensure effective response to places of refuge scenarios. The most critical and urgent issue is to ensure the decisionmaking criteria and process for both allowing and taking a ship in need of assistance to a place of refuge is well developed, agreed upon, and exercised beforehand, so that when the real thing occurs those who need to make the decision know exactly what to do and who to contact. This paper discusses relevant aspects of the National Response System and authorities as they pertain to the IMO guidelines and the role of the U.S. Coast Guard as the federal agency charged with their implementation.

Download Full-text

Developing of China Nuclear Emergency Response Ability Post Fukushima Accident

Volume 1: Plant Operations, Maintenance, Engineering, Modifications, Life Cycle and Balance of Plant; Nuclear Fuel and Materials; Radiation Protection and Nuclear Technology Applications ◽

10.1115/icone21-15091 ◽

2013 ◽

Author(s):

Jiangang Zhang ◽

Rongyao Tang ◽

Xiaoxiao Xu ◽

Yapeng Yang

Keyword(s):

Emergency Response ◽

Energy Scale ◽

Coordination Mechanism ◽

Nuclear Facilities ◽

Fukushima Accident ◽

Effective Response ◽

Emergency Response System ◽

Response System ◽

Accident Response ◽

Nuclear Emergency

After Fukushima nuclear accidents, China timely started national nuclear emergency coordination mechanism, and the national nuclear emergency organizations carried out effective response, strengthened communication with IAEA, widely collected all kinds of related information, carried out the monitoring on the land, sea, air, and ocean, predicted the accident consequence, and increased public communication. On all kinds of nuclear facilities, governments required the urgent circular-self safety assessments by each operators, and organized safety inspection groups to comprehensive on-site safety supervision and inspection. Safety inspection thought China overall nuclear safety condition was controllable, and safety was guaranteed. Meanwhile, safety improvements of NPPs considered the external disaster warning and operational, waterproof ability evaluations and improvements of important buildings, etc. China reported China radiation monitoring data to IAEA emergency center, and organized Chinese nuclear emergency expert delegation to develop technical exchanges with Japanese experts. From fukushima nuclear accident response experiences, China national nuclear emergency response ability should continue to increase according to the national nuclear energy scale: (1) Nuclear emergency response professional capacity needs to increase and professional quantity also need to increase. (2) Nuclear emergency response technique and ability needs to emphasize, and the practicability, systematic and integration of nuclear emergency response system also need to emphasize. (3) The operation mechanism and guarantee conditions of national nuclear emergency response system should be further to take attention and should be continuous to improve.

Download Full-text

THE NATIONAL RESPONSE SYSTEM: WHERE DO WE GO FROM HERE?1

International Oil Spill Conference Proceedings ◽

10.7901/2169-3358-1993-1-67 ◽

1993 ◽

Vol 1993 (1) ◽

pp. 67-72

Author(s):

Richard C. Johnson

Keyword(s):

Management System ◽

Management Practices ◽

Response Effort ◽

Effective Response ◽

Incident Command System ◽

Incident Command ◽

Response System ◽

National Response ◽

National Significance ◽

Sound Management

ABSTRACT The response to the Exxon Valdez incident showed that the nation needs to be better prepared to respond to a spill of that magnitude. In research conducted on the Valdez response, several inadequacies were noted in the National Response System (NRS). A key deficiency identified was the critical need for a standardized management system to direct the response effort more effectively and efficiently. The most pressing question for preparedness planners in improving the NRS is “where do we go from here?” In answering this question, planners must address another question, “how long is it going to take?” There has been widespread failure to put existing knowledge into practice. To fill the management void identified in the NRS, it is imperative that a response management system be adopted as soon as possible. Once adopted, it can be modified and refined to provide a more effective response. The system proposed in this paper uses the sound management practices of an incident command system and modifies and/or expands these practices to fit onto the foundation built by the NRS. This response management system could be used for all spills from minor ones to large, catastrophic spills of national significance (SONS).

Download Full-text

Improvement on Response System by Analysis of Domestic Chemical Accidents

Crisis and Emergency Management Theory and Praxis ◽

10.14251/crisisonomy.2018.14.7.31 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 14 (7) ◽

pp. 31-42

Author(s):

Sang Jae Lee ◽

◽

Joong Don Park ◽

Woo Sang Park ◽

Young Hwan Kim ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Chemical Accidents ◽

Response System

Download Full-text

BUILDING AN INCIDENT MANAGEMENT TEAM THAT WORKS

International Oil Spill Conference Proceedings ◽

10.7901/2169-3358-2008-1-237 ◽

2008 ◽

Vol 2008 (1) ◽

pp. 237-239

Author(s):

Edward Wieliczkiewicz ◽

Stephen Covey

Keyword(s):

Management System ◽

Management Team ◽

Personal Relationships ◽

Incident Management ◽

Response Mechanism ◽

Effective Response ◽

Response System ◽

Sense Of Purpose ◽

Training Mode ◽

Response Organization

ABSTRACT There are 5 components to an effective response system - remove any of the components and the system fails:Leadership – Provide direction and a sense of purpose. These individuals will project confidence and a sense of purpose with authority. The leader provides them the direction they need to be the responder they have trained to become.Management System - Allow for flexibility to be effective. As we work within our management system we have to be sure that we stay within the system. When we train, we strengthen personal relationships with all components of the system. The caution is that these relationships can sometimes overwhelm or replace the process the system is designed to support. This can result in confusion and a loss if effectiveness.Training – Responders need to understand the system, their role within the system and what it takes to succeed. Using the tools for a small response helps them become routine and a natural reaction, not a skill that needs to be learned when the pressure is magnified. People tend to fall into the routine that they practice. The key is to practice properly.Catalyst – An event that brings the team from the training mode and turns into an effective response mechanism. This gives the team a sense of worth and moves them up the ladder towards the “Esprit” stage. It ensures the team knows their effort is worth while and their effort is making a difference.Thanks from the community and those in power- Even if not displayed publicly, this validates the team'S perception of itself and establishes a place as a member within the community. Personnel who are part of a response organization on a volunteer basis can face resentment from coworkers and supervisors due to the time impact it places on their day to day activities. Receiving thanks validates the worth of their time and effort to their peers and supervisors.

Download Full-text

Web Based Oil Spill Response System

International Oil Spill Conference Proceedings ◽

10.7901/2169-3358-2014-1-300313.1 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 2014 (1) ◽

pp. 300313 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Eoin Howlett ◽

Nicole Mulanaphy ◽

Andrew Menton ◽

Stephen Sontag

Keyword(s):

Oil Spill ◽

Response Times ◽

Response Effort ◽

Remote Collaboration ◽

Effective Response ◽

Web Based ◽

Response System ◽

Response Planning ◽

Oil Spill Modeling ◽

The Impact

When oil is spilled in a marine environment the impact can be catastrophic to a sensitive region damaging natural resources. It is important to respond quickly and efficiently to maximize the response effort and minimize the impact. In order to plan and train for incidents within the Shannon Estuary in Ireland, The Shannon Estuary Anti-Pollution Team (SEAPT) required a centralized system for its members to allow for remote collaboration and effective response. SEAPT required the ability to seamlessly run and share oil spill models in conjunction with their response planning assets and sensitivity and vulnerability information. RPS ASA leveraged OilmapWeb, a web based oil spill modeling system, as a platform to build a custom oil spill modeling and response system. This customized system allows remote users to run and retrieve oil spill models and relate the output to GIS and multimedia response information. This decision tool is designed to produce fast and accurate results to improve response times and deploy the most effective response plans. The system provides a common operational picture for this region allowing for greater response collaboration and increased preparedness. This helps SEAPT to improve their response planning and facilities the sharing of information remotely in the case of an incident.

Download Full-text