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Oil Spill Response Incident Control System

National Plan to Combat Pollution of the Sea by Oil and other Noxious and Hazardous Substances

Overview

The Oil Spill Response Incident Control System (OSRICS) is based on the Incident Control System (ICS) developed in the United States. ICS was designed as a multi agency response system. It draws its strengths from the fact that it enables agencies to come together simultaneously and work as a cohesive entity.

With the increased involvement of emergency services and the oil industry in spill response in Australia and the fact that the majority use ICS, it became apparent that the response management structure previously used by the National Plan needed to change.

In April 1998 the National Plan Advisory Committee agreed to the introduction of OSRICS for spill response management under National Plan arrangements. Subsequently OSRICS was incorporated in the national, state, regional and local contingency plans over a three year period.

OSRICS lists four major functions under which it is possible to group the tasks that need to be undertaken during a marine pollution response - Planning, Operations, Logistics and Finance and Administration. These form the main elements of the organisation structure under OSRICS and are designated as Sections in the structure. The attached diagram shows the OSRIC Response Structure [ PDF: 6KB] for the National Plan. Responsibility for carrying out the tasks is delegated to a Section Officer who reports to the Incident Controller (IC) forming an Incident Management Team (IMT). Sub-sections staffed by people with appropriate skills and experience to deal with particular tasks may be created within the sections.

The number of staff required to fill positions in the OSRICS structure can be varied according to the size and complexity of the incident. In a major incident, all positions may be filled but in a lesser incident one person may fill a number of positions. In a very small incident, it may only be necessary to appoint an IC who will be able to carry out all management functions with limited assistance.

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Planning Section

Planning Officer

Responsible for the collection, evaluation and dissemination of information and the development of the Incident Action Plan.

Situation Unit - Situation Coordinator

Responsible for the collection, processing and organisation of information about the incident.

Obtain and interpret weather, tide and current predictions
Obtain and interpret pollution fate and behaviour predictions
Provide mapping and photographic services
Maintain incident status boards and other incident summary services

Resource Unit - Resource Coordinator

Responsible for information on the deployment of resources.

Maintain information summaries on the types and location of resources deployed in the response
Maintain status information of resources (eg deployed, available, en-route, unserviceable)
Prepare and maintain the incident organisation chart
Develop rosters for all response personnel

Environment Unit - Environment Coordinator

Responsible for the collection and collation of environment data and advice.

Collect and collate environment and socio-economic resource information
Prioritise environmental and socio-economic resources for protection and clean up
Provide advice on the environmental implications of proposed response and clean up measures
Provide advice on temporary and permanent waste management strategies
Coordinate shoreline assessment programs
Coordinate post spill monitoring and resource rehabilitation programs
Coordinate advice from environmental specialists
Provide advice on the protection, capture and rehabilitation of oiled wildlife

Consultation Unit - Consultation Coordinator

Responsible for the coordination and development of consultation programs for identified community and commercial groups.

Identify community and commercial groups which may be affected by the incident
Develop and implement consultation programs specific to the affected community or commercial group
Input information developed within the consultation process into response planning

Response Planning Unit - Response Plan Coordinator

Responsible for the coordination, development and review of incident action planning.

Coordinate the preparation of the Incident Action Plan and sub-plans (eg dispersants, marine operations, wildlife, waste disposal and OH&S)
Coordinate and prepare Incident Management Team meetings
Maintain minutes and records of Incident Management Team meetings
Ensure the documentation of all response decisions

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Operations Section

Operations Officer

Responsible for the implementation of response operations in accordance with the Incident Action Plan.

Marine Unit - Marine Coordinator

Responsible for the coordination of marine operations in accordance with the Incident Action Plan.

Coordinate marine transport requirements
Coordinate the deployment of oil spill response equipment
Coordinate vessel based dispersant operations

Aviation Unit - Aviation Coordinator

Responsible for the coordination of aviation operations in accordance with the Incident Action Plan.

Coordinate aerial transport operations
Coordinate aerial surveillance operations
Coordinate aerial dispersant operations

Shoreline Unit - Shoreline Coordinator

Responsible for the coordination of shoreline clean up operations in accordance with the Incident Action Plan.

Coordinate shoreline clean up
Coordinate land transport requirements for shoreline clean up and assessment teams
Coordinate shoreline assessment teams

Wildlife Unit - Wildlife Coordinator

Responsible for the coordination of wildlife operations in accordance with Incident Action Plan.

Coordinate oiled wildlife capture operations
Coordinate oiled wildlife cleaning operations
Coordinate wildlife exclusion programs

OH&S Unit - OH&S Coordinator

Responsible for the implementation and oversight of OH&S requirements in accordance with the Incident Action Plan.

Implement OH&S induction process for all operations personnel
Ensure that proper OH&S procedures have been implemented for the response
Rectify any practices which breach the OH&S protocols implemented for the response

Waste Management Unit - Waste Management Coordinator

Responsible for the management of oil and oiled debris generated by the response.

Coordinate the temporary disposal of collected oil
Coordinate the transport of oil and oiled debris to permanent disposal sites
Manage the permanent disposal sites

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Logistics Section

Logistics Officer

Responsible for the supply of response and services to support and sustain the operational response.

Procurement Unit - Procurement Coordinator

Responsible for acquisition of personnel and equipment for the operational response.

Procure personnel and equipment to implement the Incident Action Plan
Provide adequate storage for equipment
Delivery of resources

Services Unit - Services Coordinator

Responsible for the acquisition of services and facilities to support the operational response.

Provide shelters and amenities for response personnel
Provide accommodation for all response personnel
Provide catering services
Provide decontamination facilities for personnel and equipment
Provide security for all areas of the response

Transport Unit - Transport Coordinator

Responsible for the provision of aviation, land and sea transport services.

Arrange for the supply of fuel
Arrange for the supply of transport to meet operational requirements
Arrange for the maintenance of all forms of transport

Communications Unit - Communications Coordinator

Responsible for the provision of communications services and support.

Provide appropriate communications equipment to meet operational requirements
Ensure appropriate communications and support facilities as required to meet operational requirements
Provide technical support for all response communications

Medical Unit - Medical Manager

Responsible for the provision of medical services.

Provide first aid services
Provide ambulance services

Staging Area Unit - Staging Area Manager

Responsible for the implementation and management of assembly and staging areas.

Provide check in/out procedures for personnel
Provide check in/out procedures for equipment
Refurbish equipment for return or redeployment

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Finance and Administration Section

Finance and Administration Officer

Responsible for the provision of administrative and financial services.

Administrative Unit - Administrative Coordinator

Responsible for administrative services.

Provide administrative services
Provide staff to operate facilities including telephones, facsimiles, computers, radios and runners

Finance Unit - Finance Coordinator

Responsible for the provision of financial services.

Ensure sufficient cash flow to meet immediate response needs
Administer contracting services
Pay all accounts and costs associated with the incident
Collate expenditure records for cost recovery

Records Unit - Records Coordinator

Responsible for the collation of incident records.

Collate response personnel time sheets
Collate equipment usage records
Collate personal records of personnel
Implement a records management system for the response

Incident Command Centre Management Unit - Incident Command Centre Manager

Responsible for the management of the Incident Command Centre (ICC).

Ensure effective operation of the ICC
Manage information flow within the ICC
Administer ICC security

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last updated: November 2003