Cordons: Policy 415 08.07.15 Flashcards
What is a cordon?
A boundary, physical or otherwise used to identify the perimeter of a hazardous area.
List the 3 key benefits of a cordon:
- To separate those at risk, including fire service personnel.
- To facilitate the operations of the emergency services.
- To protect the scene and prevent unauthorised access to evidence or property.
Name the 3 types of cordons and their descriptions:
INNER CORDON: around immediate scene of ops to restrict or exclude and area of hazard.
OUTER CORDON: generally wider, separating the public from areas used by the emergency services.
TRAFFIC CORDON: set up by Police at or beyond outer cordon to present unauthorised vehicle access to surrounding area. Used to reduce congestion/promote traffic flow.
A) What identifies an inner cordon?
B) The size of the inner cordon should large enough to contain:
A) Yellow (Hazard Zone - Do Not Cross) tape. Not to be used for anything else.
B)
- The hazard zone, considering potential escalation.
- The personnel and equipment involved.
A) What identifies an outer cordon?
B) What is usually contained within it?
C) Who controls access?
A) Red and White (Fire Service - Do Not Cross) tape.
B) Command Vehicles, marshalling areas, areas for co-ordination of support roles and RVPs.
C) The police.
What takes precedence over a cordon?
Withdrawal of those at risk from the hazard area. Anyone unnecessarily exposed should be withdrawn asap.
What are the problems with a poorly sized cordon?
Too small then risk may be too high.
Too large then control of its boundaries and resources will be difficult to manage.
What other control measures could be adopted as an alternative to a cordon?
- Removal of a hazard.
- An IC monitoring an area of risk.
- Designating specific personnel to monitor and area of risk.
Who needs to be informed when a cordon has been set up?
Control. As much detail as possible and suitable approach routes and RVP point should be included.
At an incident who has responsibility for the health and safety of emergency service personnel?
At an incident where the fire service had primacy the IC. Following fire service primacy responsibility will be handed to the police.
What are the terms used to describe the IC and the cordon sector commanders at a ‘Major Incident’?
IC is referred to as Fire Silver and operates at tactical level (agreeing cordons with police) and sector commanders are Fire Bronze maintaining the cordon(s). Fire Bronze may designate officers as ICCs and ICRs.
What is the minimum role for an ICC (Inner Cordon Controller) and ICR (Inner Cordon Recorder)?
WM
Where is equipment for Inner Cordon Control located and what is in it?
Major incident box on CU. Fire Silver tabard, 6 x ICC/R tabards, 2 x Entry and exit signs, 25 x 1C1 and IC2 forms, 2 x clipboards, 2 x aide memoirs, 2 x markers, 40 arm bands, 1 x security tape.
What is the role of an ICC?
Those entering are numbered in sequence and recorded on IC1.
Ensure armband on with date, IC1 number and entry point letter.
Correct PPE and brief (risks, evac, entry/exit).
If non brigade escorted as necessary.
NB: Armbands come in 4 colours and daily chosen by Police Silver for security.
What is the role of the ICR?
To record all personnel already deployed in hazard zone prior to established cordon.
If remaining details recorded on IC2 and allocate an IC2 number to be passed on to ICC.
Issue armband with date, entry point to leave by and IC2 number.
Ensure appropriate PPE, brief (risks, exit, evac).
Pass info to ICC.
