Major incident response and investigation

Stage 3: Initial response

Decide timing of despatch of an inspector to the incident and to what purpose, by considering:

• whether urgent HSE attendance is appropriate
• whether there is sufficient information about the incident
• any initial health and safety issues/instructions with inspector
• HSC/E’s policies on enforcement priorities
• the involvement of other enforcement/investigation agencies
• involvement of  HSL

Discuss with the inspector:

• the initial objectives to be achieved
• the arrangements for reporting initial information

Meanwhile, inform:

• the originator of the initial notification of the proposed attendance and estimated time of arrival
• the emergency services of the intention to deploy an inspector

If the incident was a fatal:

• inform the Coroner/Fiscal whether or not HSE is involved in investigating the incident if practicable
• remind the Coroner that HSE should be informed when the inquest is to be held

Immediately on arrival:

• make contact with officers in control of the emergency services present at the scene
• confirm the status of the incident with fire service
• determine whether the police have retained control of the site or that has been released to the occupier
• confirm that civil contingency plans are not being activated

If the incident is subsequently declared to be a civil contingency event:

• follow the instructions of Police Gold re evacuation
• notify appropriate FOD Divisional Director, HSE press office and line manager

Take the following initial actions:

• start a written record in notebook
• start a written record of key decisions in key decision log
• make an initial risk assessment of personal health and safety and any PPE requirements
• assume interim control of the investigation until relieved by investigation team leader
• alert the site operator and other emergency service officers, if required, of the need to leave evidence undisturbed.
• collect latest information about the incident, including: precise location (using the grid reference (if necessary), casualties (numbers, severity, deaths, injuries, persons trapped, etc); hazards (spillages, leaks, fire, safety of buildings, machinery, etc); type of incident (chemical release, explosion, fire, structure collapse, etc)
• determine whether and what specialist, technical or additional support required
• determine the health and safety requirements, e.g. PPE, for other HSE staff who will attend, identify safe routes of access, etc
• be prepared to make a holding statement to the media if required
• if enforcement action against the emergency services is a consideration, consult the line manager where ever practicable

On site, confirm:

• that the information that triggered the designation of the incident as a potential major incident is correct

Whether or not the initial information was correct, pass on details of the current situation, either directly or via line manager, to:

• press office 020 7717 6700, or out of hours 020 7928 8382 (who will inform the Secretariat)
• duty officer (0151 922 9235), if incident occured out of hours
• FOD divisional director for region concerned, if civil contingency plans are activated whilst on site
• relevant section/area manager for establishment concerned
• relevant specialists, e.g. mechanical engineering, process safety, etc, if required
• HSL if required
• DoT duty officer 0207 7944 5999 or duty press officer 0207 7944 4292, for incidents involving transport
• DTI duty officer/press officer 0207 215 3505/3234, for a civil nuclear emergency

If the information that triggered the designation of the incident as major is not substantially correct:

• provide updated information to enable re-evaluation of incident status to be made

go to step 1.3: Confirmation of potential major incident