Control
Unlike command, control is a little harder to define. As we reviewed at the beginning of this topic, CONTROL is the function of directing and is exercised across organisations.
In certain instances, a single organisation or person may be responsible for controlling the actions of other organisations or agencies. This responsibility may be a legislated one or it may be an agreed one, with such an agreement formalised under an action plan, response plan or disaster/emergency management plan.
The need for a control structure is shown in the following example. Take the occurrence of a major traffic accident. Organisations involved could include a law enforcement agency, transportation agency, ambulance service, fire service, electricity authority, local government authority, road works authority, rescue service etc, etc. Each one of these organisations operates under its own command structure, but how do they all liaise and interrelate in respect of what needs to be done at the accident scene?
If an organisation/person could coordinate the response of all agencies and maintain an overall picture of what is happening, the response effort would become far more coherent and effective. This organisation/person would therefore control the response, i.e. direct the response to the event across the various organisations. The organisation/person controlling the response would obtain information, advice, plans of action, options and consequences of actions from the other response organisation commanders and formulate an overall plan to effectively combat the event.
This controlling organisation/person is known by many titles and you will need to identify what that title is for your own community and also in the community that was the site of the event which you are analysing. One common term or title used is "Controller".
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Read Reading 8.1: Extract from Emergency Services Act 1976, Tasmania. Reading 8.2: Extract from Emergency Management Plan, Municipality of Dorset. Reading 8.3: Extract from Northern Region Emergency Management Plan. Reading 8.4: Extract from Tasmanian Emergency Management Plan. |
Please study these extracts paying particular attention to the Command/Control aspects contained within.
The above readings have provided you with a number of examples of how the command and control structure for emergency events has been organised within Tasmanian Local Government, Regional and State arrangements. The plans are dated, but the command and control concepts, principles and arrangements are still very relevant.
Let us recap:
- Go back to the beginning of Topic 7 of this subject, where you reviewed hazards and examined the occurrence of each hazard within your community.
- Open up your Activity 7.1 table and examine the hazards you identified.
We will now extend this exercise and using the Activity 8.4 table below, from the list of hazards you provided in Activity 7, identify:
- which organisations would respond or provide support to the occurrence of each hazard;
- which organisation is designated as the controlling authority for the response to the hazard; and
- where such control function is stipulated i.e. legislation, plans, agreements etc.
Once again, after completing the table save it to your Learning Portfolio.
Control
Hazard |
Response/Support Organisations |
Controlling Organisation |
Where is the Control Function Stipulated? |
View
View the video extract from "A Coordinated Response to Disaster – The Clapham Rail Crash" provided below. This particular extract discusses how the coordination of agency and organisational response was managed during the Clapham Rail Crash in London on the 12th December, 1988. This section of video continues on from that used in Topic 7. It is not provided as a way of explaining how things should be done, but provides an example of how this particular event was managed and also provides some examples of the advantages that resulted.