The Council's main effort in respect of emergency management, in accordance with the Civil Contingencies Act 2004(Contingency Planning)(Scotland) Regulations 2005, is co-ordinated by the Contingency Planning Officer in the Chief Executive's Department, from its offices at Garshake Road.
The Civil Contingencies Act addresses the contingency planning and emergency management responsibilities of local authorities and other agencies, such as the emergency services, as well as providing the framework by which the government may invoke emergency powers.
The aim of the Contingency Planning Officer is to ensure that departments plan for a flexible approach to all manner of emergencies, enabling the Council to respond effectively and in a way that is fully integrated with the response procedures of the emergency services, other local authorities and other partner agencies. In this respect the work centres around:
planning
training & exercising
operations
Objectives
The Civil Contingencies Act places responsibilities on the Council and subsequently the Contingency Planning Officer in respect of:
co-operating with statutory partner agencies (through the Strathclyde Emergencies Co-ordinating Group), and other organisations;
sharing information with partner agencies as part of a culture of co-operation in contingency planning;
assessing risks and ensuring that the multi-agency SECG compiles and publishes a Community Risk Register, to ensure that local responders make contingency arrangements that reflect and are proportionate to local risks;
communicating with the public, thereby ensuring that local communities are kept informed about potential risks;
preparing contingency plans (the first time that this has been a statutory duty);
undertaking business continuity planning, so that authorities are able to continue to deliver essential functions in the event of an emergency so far as is reasonably practicable,
promoting the need to undertake business continuity planning to local businesses and voluntary agencies.
The Contingency Planning Officer provides the Council's 'first point-of-contact' response to emergency incidents, and to provide effective logistic support to our emergency management partner agencies when required, on a 24/7/365 basis.
Other Legislation and Guidance
Emergency Management throughout the United Kingdom is governed by various other pieces of Legislation and Regulations to ensure that planning and cooperation between organisations is consistent at a national and local level.
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Preparing Scotland Preparing Scotland brings together, in one place, guidance on the philosophy and structures with statutory guidance on the implementation of the Regulations, good practice and the integration of national and local planning for emergencies.
It is a living document that will develop and adapt to the environment in which it is set. It will also promote Scottish resilience and enhance preparation, response and recovery from disruptive challenges through effective partnership working from local communities to UK Government.
For further information see http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Justice/emergecies/
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Control Of Major Accident Hazards Regulations 1999 (COMAH) The aim of the COMAH regulations is to prevent major accidents involving dangerous substance and limit the consequences to people and the environment of any which do occur.
The regulations operate at two levels (lower and top tier) depending on the quantities of dangerous substances at an establishment.
For more information see our Planning for Emergencies webpage.
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Pipelines Safety Regulations 1996 The regulations apply to all pipelines in Great Britain, and to all pipelines in territorial waters and the UK Continental Shelf. They ensure that a pipeline is designed, constructed and operated safety, provide a means of securing pipeline integrity, thereby reducing risks to the environment.
This regulation requires that adequate arrangements are in place in the event of an incident or emergency relating to the pipeline.
For more information see our Planning for Emergencies webpage.
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The Radiation (Emergency Preparedness and Public Information) Regulations 2001 (REPPIR) This regulation lays down the basic safety standards for the protection of the health of workers and the general public against the dangers arising from ionising radiation (the BSS 96 Directive- Basic Safety Standards).
The Regulations apply to fixed sites, rail transport and the transfer of radioactive substances across public places (other than by standard transport modes).
The majority of the Regulations within REPPIR refer to nuclear "premises", there is one exception - Regulation 17- which places a duty on all Local Authorities to supply information to the public in the event of a radiation emergency, under the European Communities Act 1972.
For more information see the HSE website , and The Regulations .
