The Emergency Response Planning team are involved with many key activities across the Brigade with the main topics being satisfying the organisations Statutory obligations under the Civil Contingencies Act 2004.
Other areas of involvement include:
The team play a pivotal part in monitoring incidents within the conurbation and those outside the area that may impact on us, for example avian influenza, foot and mouth, severe weather, industrial action, etc.
By also using risk management data/processes to predict future risk which may impact on our service and establishment (environment, severe weather, climate change) we can try and ensure the organisation is prepared for any major event or incident.
With this information we can keep the WMFS informed of any likely impacts and ensure plans are in place so that we can continue to provide a service to our communities.
Civil Contingencies Act 2004 (CCA)
The Civil Contingencies Act 2004 came into effect following the perceived failing of response to the Fuel Crisis and Severe Flooding in the autumn and winter of 2000 and the Foot and Mouth Crisis in 2001.
The Deputy Prime Minister announced that a review of emergency planning arrangements was needed and this would include a public consultation exercise.
The key finding of this review was that current measures in place weren’t adequate enough to deal with 21st century threats.
The Civil Contingencies Act received Royal Assent on 18th November 2004 and represents a single framework for implementing new emergency planning arrangements. It consists of two parts:
The work demanded by the Civil Contingencies Act is a major part of the Emergency Response Planning Teams remit.
Business Continuity Management
Business Continuity Management is a requirement of the Civil Contingencies Act 2004. The Act stipulates that West Midlands Fire Service, as a category 1 responder, must have plans in place so that in the event of an interruption both internally and externally, the service delivery is maintained at all times.
Each station and department within West Midlands Fire Service must have a Business Continuity Plan in place and ensure that staff are aware of their plans and their responsibilities within the plan.
There are also strategic level Business Continuity Plans in place which are maintained, exercised and tested in readiness for use in an incident to enable West Midlands Fire Service to continue to deliver its critical services. Some examples of these plans include:
The Emergency Response Planning Team are responsible for making sure that BCM is understood and embedded into the organisation by reviewing and exercising plans to ensure that they are fit for purpose.
Local Resilience Forum
Local Resilience Forums were established under the Civil Contingencies Act 2004 and are the principal mechanism for multi-agency co-operation and information sharing on civil protection planning and preparedness work carried out by responders and other organisations
In the West Midlands the Local Resilience Forum, known as the West Midlands Conurbation LRF, is made up of 7 metropolitan councils and informs residents of the West Midlands on local risks that may be faced.
There is a network of Local Resilience Forum's covering the whole of the UK. The West Midlands Conurbation has the responsibility in insuring that, from a conurbation-wide level, the appropriate agencies are working together to fulfil their duties under the Act.
Control of Major Accident Hazards (COMAH) 1999 (Amended 2005) Regulations
It was stipulated within the COMAH Regulations that it is the responsibility of the ‘Local Authority’ to prepare emergency plans (off-site).
Local Authority is defined as; 
In conclusion West Midlands Fire Service are responsible for the production, review, testing and amendment of COMAH off-site plans.
Radiation (Emergency Preparedness and Public Information) Regulations 2001 (REPPIR)
In accordance with the Radiation (Emergency Preparedness and Public Information) Regulations 2001, there are arrangements in place within the West Midlands conurbation ensuring that members of the public, who are likely to be affected or will be affected by a radiation emergency, are given relevant information about such emergencies; the measures planned for the protection of their health and what they should do if it were decided to activate those protective measures.
Pipelines Safety Regulations 1996
Many designated pipelines run through the West Midlands Fire Service area, transporting fuel products and natural gas at high pressure.
The Pipeline Safety Regulations 1996 task Local Authorities with the production of emergency plans to cover certain major accident hazzard pipelines within their area.
Pipeline incidents requiring the attendance of the Fire Service will generally be a leakage, which may or may not have ignited. The scale of the incident will vary depending on the circumstances but with the potential to escalate into a major incident.
Incidents involving pipelines have been few, as high standards of safety are applied by these highly regulated industries. Procedures adopted by the employees of any pipeline company are based on a model code of practice. Regular liaison between the pipeline owners or a representative and the Fire Authority take place to produce robust contingency plans.
