New disaster site clearance guidance published by UK government

New guidance about the clearance of sites affected by incidents such as natural disasters or terrorist attack has been published by the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister and the Welsh Assembly Government.

The Site Clearance Capability guidance is intended to provide a practical source of reference for emergency planners and responders in England and Wales.

Announcing the publication of the guidance Phil Woolas, ODPM Minister for Local Government and Civil Resilience, said: "It has never been more vital that effective plans are in place to ensure that agencies can respond swiftly and effectively to a range of incidents whether natural, accidental or terrorist related. Events such as the London bombings, or the recent floodings across the country, show why the government has been strengthening emergency plans. Site clearance is just one of the many considerations to be taken into account to ensure a resilient and effective respond to disasters: guidance and procedures have already been developed for the likes of emergency evacuation and mass fatalities.

"The prime objective of any site clearance programme is to support the restoration of normal services as rapidly as possible.

"This generic guidance draws on best practice in site clearance from a range of national and international experiences. It has been developed in consultation with key stakeholders on other government departments and agencies, the emergency services, local authorities and the private sector."

The guidance is not a prescriptive plan but provides generic advice on issues to consider when putting together contingency plans for site clearance, placing a firm emphasis on underpinning the planning process with an informed assessment of local risks. Considerations covered by the guidance include:

* The rescue of trapped and injured persons;

* Recovery of fatalities;

* Facilitating criminal investigations;

* Safe removal and disposal of rubble and other debris; and

* Ensuring the environmental impact from site clearance is controlled.

•Date: 20th Oct 2005 • Region: UK • Type: Article •Topic: Emergency planning
Rate this article or make a comment - click here