2.4.1 Principles of ICS – Command, Control and Co-ordination
-COMMAND: internal direction of members and resources of an organization in the performance of the organization’s roles and tasks. It operates vertically within a single organization. At an incident scene, the Incident Commander has the authority to assume command because incident require someone to be in charge.
-CONTROL: overall direction of response activities in an emergency situation. It relates to situations and operates across multiple organizations.
-CO-ORDINATION: bringing together of organizations and resources to ensure consistent and effective response to an incident.
2.4.2 Principles of ICS – Response Planning Cycle
-PLANNING AND DECISION MAKING: Develop, consider and select strategies to respond to the incident
-IMPLEMENTATION: Operational implementation of the selected strategies
-MONITORING AND REVIEW: Put in place mechanism to evaluate the effectiveness of the implemented response strategies.
2.4.3 Principles of ICS – Incident Response Objectives, Strategies & Tactics
-Objectives: a statement of the goal of the incident response.
specific, measurable, achievable, time-bound, location
-Strategies: describes the response methods that will be employed to meet the incident objective.
-Tactics: describe the specific activities required to implement the selected response strategies such as detailed response actions, determine and assign resources, monitor performance and monitor safety of operations.
2.4.4 Principles of ICS – Incident Action Plan (IAP)
Every IAP must have five basic elements:
-Situation
Area impacted, environmental & socio-economic resources at risk, response
resources deployed and actions taken
-Objective
End results that the response activities are intended to achieve
-Execution
Strategies & tactics, task priorities, timelines & deadlines, hazards management actions to be taken on completion of tasks
-Administration and Logistics
Transport, fuel, food, administrative support, equipment supply
-Command, Control, Co-ordination and Communication
Reporting arrangements, responsibilities, briefing times and locations, shift timings, communication arrangements.
Span of Control for effective ICS
-Number of personnel or functions that an individual can manage effectively
-For a single position in the ICS: 3 – 7
-Optimal number: 5
