Most of us plan for emergencies, whether by installing a fire extinguisher, carrying a first aid kit or keeping a spare house key somewhere safe. On a much larger scale, Government, Local Authorities, businesses and other large organizations also make plans for unexpected incidents.
Although the 1990's saw a new era of peace, it was marked by an inordinate number of mass tragedies and disasters that tested existing emergency arrangements and provided many points of learning. Emergency management has developed as a result and the response to disasters is now integrated. Emergency services, local authorities and other responding organizations now communicate better and co-ordinate their efforts, improving both the management of the scene and the post disaster recovery process.
Local authorities have duties placed upon them by specific statutory duties and powers in addition to the Civil Contingencies Act. These include: European directives dealing with hazardous materials and sites such as the Control of Major Accident Hazards (COMAH), the Notification of Installations Handling Hazardous Substances (NIHHS), the Pipeline Safety Regulations and the Radiation (Emergency Preparedness and Public Information) Regulations (REPPIR).
The Civil Contingencies Act 2004 (Contingency Planning)(Scotland) Regulations 2004
The Civil Contingencies Act became law in April 2005 while the Regulations came into force on 14th November 2005. This resulted from an earlier review of emergency planning following incident such as flooding, the fuel crisis and the outbreak of foot and mouth disease in 2000. The Act replaces the outdated Civil Defence legislation that dates back to 1948 and will put emergency planning on a proper statutory basis.
The Civil Contingencies Act is a framework that will place several duties on local authorities to:
Assess the risk of an emergency occurring and publish a community risk register
Prepare and Maintain plans to make sure we can respond effectively to an emergency
Co-operate with other agencies to develop multi agency emergency response
Warn and inform the Public
Provide advice to the Public
Prepare and Maintain plans to continue to provide our services during emergencies
Promote business continuity planning to local businesses
Much of this work was already being carried out on an informal basis which the act now formalises.
Council Emergency Plans
Civil Emergency Procedures
In the event of an emergency incident, the Civil Emergency Response Procedures will be activated to control and co-ordinate the response by West Dunbartonshire Council and to do so in conjunction with the response by the other organisations and agencies involved.
These procedures also detail the council's responses to particular events such as:
Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear Attack (CBRN)
Communicable Disease & Food Outbreaks
Loss of Fire Brigade Cover
Marine Pollution
Restriction of Essential Supplies
Transportation Accidents
Waterborne Hazards
Severe Weather
Evacuation Management
Emergency Centres
One of the most likely tasks to face the Local Authority in an emergency will be to provide emergency accommodation
During and following an emergency, the Council may also provide care and support to members of the public or to uninjured survivors who have been affected by an incident. Such care and support may be provided at special centres set up for the purpose.
There can be various types of centres set up depending on the nature of the incident and its effects on the surrounding population. Centres may be established in conjunction with feeding facilities or set up solely as evacuation centres. The roles of the responding agencies may also change depending on the scale of the emergency and the type of centre set up.
Rest Centre. A building designated for the temporary shelter and care of homeless people. A place of comfort and refuge set up to provide temporary shelter and essential welfare services for all those who have been evacuated from or dispossessed of their homes in an emergency. It will be managed by local authority staff
Survivor Reception Centre. This is a secure area to which survivors of an incident can be taken for shelter, first aid, interview and documentation. In most cases, the police manage it with support from local authority staff.
Friends and Relatives Reception Centre. The initial reception and temporary accommodation of family and friends coming to the incident, from outside the immediate area, to obtain details of what is happening. The Police will use this to interview of friends and relatives of victims.
Humanitarian Assistance Centre (HAC)
A HAC is a facility where bereaved families and survivors can receive information and appropriate support from all the relevant agencies without immediate need for referral elsewhere. This support will take various forms and may require the provision of a wide range of services utilising a variety of building styles.
The HAC should not be confused with other facilities, which appear in emergency planning doctrine or guidance e.g. the 'Family and Friends Reception Centre', the 'Survivior Reception Centre' , 'Rest Centre' etc.
The HAC will act as a 'one-stop-shop' for survivors, families and those affected by the disaster, through which they can access support, care and advice. It will allow families and survivors to make informed choices according to their needs.
All these centres are regarded as only short-term options. People will remain at them for a limited period of time before more suitable accommodation can be found or they return to their own property.
Media Response Guidelines
Major emergencies and disasters generate intense media interest, and representatives of the press and broadcasting services may be at the scene of an incident as quickly as the emergency services.
This plan sets out guidelines for West Dunbartonshire Council's response to the media during an emergency.
Warning & Informing the Public
A new plan for warning and informing the public is currently being written. It will address such issues as how the public will be warned of impending disaster and kept informed and up to date during emergency situations.
A number of information leaflets will also be produced to address specific issues.
Multi Agency Plans
Community Risk Register
The Strathclyde Emergencies Co-ordinating Group have created a community risk register of risks that have been identified within the Strathclyde area. This register can be accessed via the Strathclyde Fire & Rescue Service website at:
Strathclyde Fire Brigade
Exotic Notifiable Animal Diseases Plan
Influenza (Avian)
Avian influenza, or 'bird flu', is a highly contagious disease of birds, caused by influenza A viruses. Domestic poultry are highly susceptible.
"It is important to underline that the H5N1 strain of avian influenza, now reported in southern Europe, is essentially a disease of birds and poultry. The risk to human health only arises in persons in very close contact with infected birds." DEFRA Statement, 20 October 2005
For the statement click on the following link: Statement on Avian Influenza
Advice from DEFRA
Lastest update -
Avian Influenza (Bird Flu) Questions and Answers
Guidance on handling and disposing of dead garden and wild birds
Avian Influenza Leaflet
Avian Influenza Poster
Health Protection Scotland Advice
Foot & Mouth Outbreak
A joint plan prepared by Strathclyde Emergencies Co-ordinating Group containing arrangements and procedures for the response to an outbreak of foot and mouth disease in this area.
Loss of 999 Service Plan
A joint plan prepared by the Strathclyde Emergencies Co-ordination Group containing arrangements and procedures for the response to an assistance to be given by local authorities if the 999 system were to fail for any length of time.
Rabies Outbreak Control Plan
Details the requirements of the 12 authorities and emergency services within the Strathclyde Police area to mitigate the effects of a rabies outbreak.
Strathspill II Plan
The Strathspill Oil Pollution Plan is a co-ordinating document issued by the Strathclyde Emergencies Co-ordination Group and is intended to provide information about the roles, responsibillities and actions of all the partner organisations, and to give guidance on which relevant oil pollution plan(s) should be used during any incident
Repatriation Procedures
These procedures are currently be prepared to allow local authorities to manage the repatriation of citizens who have been involved in incidents abroad.
Major Incident Mortuaries
Will, once complete, detail the area wide arrangements for establishing and operating a major incident mortuary within the Strathclyde Police area.
Clyde Clean Oilspill Response Plan (Clydeport)
Details the multi agency response to an oilspill in the Clydeport area and links to our own plan for dealing with shoreline pollution.
Scottish Water - Waterborne Hazards Plan
This Scottish Water Plan aims to ensure that a framework is provided for the management of a co-ordinated approach to any potential or actual event likely to give rise to a waterborne contamination incident associated with the public water supply.
Strathclyde Emergencies Co-ordination Group Pandemic Influenza Guidelines
Contains the necessary arrangements and procedures that will be implemented to allow the Health Boards and the local authority to continue to provide services in the face of absenteeism resulting from a pandemic of influenza and the arrangements for the council to contribute to the West of Scotland response to mitigate the effects of a pandemic.
UK Response to Pandemic Flu
The UK Pandemic Influenza Contingency Plan was published in October 2005. It sets out specfic measures and actions required from health and other government departments and organisations at national and local levels to support an effective response to a flu pandemic.
More Information
For more information on pandemic flu click on the following link to download:
Plans Required by Legislation
COMAH - Control of Major Accident Hazards
The Health & Safety Executive (HSE) regulates hazardous sites under the Control of Major Accident Hazards (COMAH) Regulations 1999, and establishes a duty on such sites to prepare for emergencies.
The COMAH Regulations came into force on 1 April 1999 and are amended by the Control of Major Accident Hazards (Amendment) Regulations 2005 from 30 June 2005. COMAH applies mainly to the chemical industry, but also to some storage activities, explosives and nuclear sites, and other industries where threshold quantities of dangerous substances identified in the Regulations are kept or used.
The aim of the regulations is to prevent and mitigate the effects on people and the environment of those major incidents involving dangerous substances.
The local authority, in whose area there is an establishment, are required to prepare an emergency plan (in these Regulations referred to as an "Off-site emergency plan") in respect of that establishment.
Whilst the Regulations make this the responsibility of West Dunbartonshire Council, these plans are prepared jointly with the site operator and members of the SECG.
There are two levels of application of COMAH, low tier and top tier. Low tier sites are required to submit a safety report and on-site emergency plans to the Health and Safety Executive (HSE). Top tier sites are not only required to submit a safety report and an on-site plan, but must also provide the local authority with information to enable it to produce an off-site emergency response plan.
Under these regulations the West Dunbartonshire Council Contingency Planning Officer is in the process of preparing, maintaining and exercising three Top Tier COMAH plans.
These are for:
Allied Distillers Dumbuck Maturation Warehouse Site, Dumbuck, Dumbarton
Chivas Bros, Maturation Warehouse Site, Dalmuir, Clydebank
Kaneb Terminals Ltd., Rothesay Dock, Clydebank
Those living or working within the Public Information Zone of a major site should be advised by the site operator in the event of an emergency/accident at the site.
For further information: Health and Safety Executive COMAH
DEFRA Guidance on the Interpretation of Major Accident to the Environment for the Purposes of the COMAH Regulations
Pipelines Safety Regulations 1996
Pipeline carrying dangerous substances are identified by the Health and Safety Executive. There is a statutory duty on the council to prepare plans to deal with a major accident occurring from these.
Major Accident Hazard Pipeline is a pipeline that transports a flammable liquid, chemical substance or gas. Pipelines are considered one of the safest modes of transport for conveying hazardous substances; the likelihood of an explosion in a natural gas pipeline in the UK is low. However, the loss of containment following a pipeline fracture or accidental release could have disastrous consequences, measures are therefore taken to reduce the risks they pose.
The Pipelines Safety Regulations 1996 ensure that the design, construction, installation, operation, maintenance, and decommissioning of pipelines is to a very high safety standard.
Under these regulations the West Dunbartonshire Council Contingency Planning Officer, in partnership with other SECG partners has produced an emergency plan which is maintained and exercised on a three yearly cycle which details the action to be taken to minimise the consequences to the health and safety of people in the event of an emergency involving the major accident hazard pipeline (SCOTIA GAS NETWORKS) in Old Kilpatrick/Clydebank
The procedure for the reporting of gas leaks by any member of the public who, if they should smell gas or if they suspect a gas leak, should immediately contact:
Scotia Gas Network's 24-hour Emergency Telephone Number - 0800 111 999
For further information: Office of Public Sector Information Pipelines Safety Regulations 1996
REPPIR (17)
Regulation 17 of the Radiation (Emergency Preparedness and Public Information) Regulations 2001 (REPPIR) which came into force on 20th September 2001, is made under the European Communities Act 1972.
Regulation 17 applies to ALL local authorities irrespective of the rest of REPPIR, and it relates to general duties on local authorities to have arrangements in place to provide information to the public with regard to any kind of radiation emergency.
A draft is being produced by West Dunbartonshire Council to ensure that members of the public affected by a radiation emergency are given relevant information regarding the emergency, measures to protect their health and details of any co-operation required if health protection measures are to be implemented.
Public Advice In The Event of Major Chemical/Hazardous Material Incident
In the event of an accident regarding pipelines the following emergency action should be followed unless otherwise informed by a member of the emergency services:
Go indoors unless there is an obvious risk to the property, close doors and windows and shut down ventilation systems if it is safe to do so.
Stay indoors until you know more about the situation and the appropriate action you need to take to protect yourself further.
Tune in to a local radio station.
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