Introduction
The incident management system aims to guide all non-governmental, governmental, and private sector agencies to prevent incidences causing harm to the environment or loss of life. The National Incident Management System (NIMS) analyzes all possible risk factors causing damage to the environment, responds to threats, and manages the recovery from the actual incidences. The mitigation of environmental risks governed by NIMS comprises various components such as planning, logistics, command, operations, administration, or finance. The components of the national incident management system NIMS are effectively employed in Aircraft rescue and firefighting (ARFF) or the airport accident event.
Branches of the Incident Command System
The incident command system organizes system responses to incidents and manages the rescue process. Command supports all four Incident Command System (ICS) branches by outlining incident goals, operational goals, and timelines. The ICS planning branch is responsible for overseeing the incident-related data, assembling and analyzing the incident-related data, and managing the response system by coordinating information. The logistics section supports the command branch by using their equipment, supplies, personnel, and executing technical activities (Samaras & Ferreira, 2019). The operation team enacts rescue strategies detailed with methodology and specific actions to achieve the goals set in place by the command. Additionally, it executes strategies to achieve the purpose of the response. The finance group supports command and operations by carrying out administrative duties of tracking expenses.
Utilizing the Incident Command System in an Airport Accident Event
Airport incident events include fire, active shooter, power outage, or snow emergency. An incident management system can effectively be integrated with ARFF in an airport accident event. The five branches of the ICS perform various tasks; it is essential for the airport staff to be well trained in ICS before any incident event and continuously be an ongoing drill among the airport staff. The operational section is responsible for strategic response and establishes strategic teams and forces to report to the central operational team for more coverage and a lesser workload. The task force includes the fire force, airport safety manager, medical, airfield, law enforcement, and airport maintenance. The logistics chief is usually appointed based on the available resources to support airport accidents (Samaras & Ferreira, 2019). Their main aim is to ensure all personnel’s safety, release and approve resource allocation, supervise and manage operations, and support all other sections. The logistics team provides transportation, medical emergencies, food, fuel, supplies, equipment, and communication channels to other teams.
The planning chief is assigned the post at the Emergency Operations Center (EOC) when the response is approximated to last for more than a few hours. The personnel is responsible for managing and analyzing all incident data, supervising, facilitating meetings, and providing predictions of the incidents. The administration/finance chief manages the financial matters in the airport, being responsible for supporting all the branches with the necessary financial needs. However, the costs of accounting and the processes are prepared before the incidence of ease of finance management.
In conclusion, continuous communication and status reports are vital for the incident command system branches to work as a team and ease the decision-making process. The operational, logistics, planning, and finance sections are essential parts of the accident event. However, airports require a strategic response and well-trained employees in place in case of an accident event to mitigate the risks.
Reference
Samaras, P., & Ferreira, M. J. (2019). Emergency communication systems effectiveness in an airport environment. Journal of Business Continuity & Emergency Planning, 12(3), 242-252.