Highways Agency

• Traffic Incident Management Bulletin

June 2008

Issue 15 (March 2008) of the TIM bulletin reported on the review of how the Highways Agency discharges its statutory duties, as a responder, under the Civil Contingencies Act 2004. This article provides an introduction to the role of the Emergency Planning Managers; who are key to fulfilling these duties. Next month a follow up article will provide detail regarding the new role of the Contingency and Event Coordinator.

Regional Emergency Planning Managers

As part of regionalisation within the Agency, seven Regional Emergency Planning Manager (EPM) roles have been created. The EPM role is to act as a manager, ambassador and focal point for all HA regional resilience, emergency planning and security issues. This said, the statutory duties of the Highways Agency under the Civil Contingencies Act 2004 are ultimately the joint responsibility of all Highways Agency personnel, with the EPM providing a conduit role.

The EPM will help minimise the impact of a major incident or severe disruptive challenge on the local community and environment through prior assessment and prioritisation of the potential hazards and risks to the Agency in their respective region and by planning for response and recovery should an incident occur.

The EPM is responsible for the day-to-day organisation, management and supervision of the emergency planning function within the Highways Agency, including acting as focal point for appropriate regional resilience and security issues, liaising closely with the Agency's Network Resilience Team.

The regional EPM role will include:

• Emergency Plan development and validation
• Development of Community Risk Registers
• Exercising
• Supporting incidents though prior tactical planning
• Participating in training programmes
• Building close stakeholder relationships
• Encouraging joined up working and integrated resilience
• Resilience Forums and working/sub groups
• Facilitating cold debriefs

Recruitment and Training

The roll out of EPMs will culminate with seven Regional EPMs being in post by Spring 2009. Where necessary, for the interim, temporary EPMs have been identified to fulfil the Emergency Planning role.

The Network Resilience Team (NRT) will facilitate this process through:

• Developing a training programme for EPMs to achieve professional recognition
• Co-ordinating a training and exercising programme to support Category 2 duties under the Civil Contingencies Act 2004
• Assisting and supporting with general EPM regional embedment

EPM training will be aligned to the National Occupational Standards for Civil Contingencies which are currently being developed, based upon the requirements of Integrated Emergency Management.

Integrated Emergency Management is a holistic approach to civil protection, which comprises six related activities:

• Anticipation
• Assessment
• Prevention
• Preparation
• Response
• Recovery

Inaugural EPM workshop

This was held on the 6th May 2008 and brought together regional representatives to:

• Provide awareness and a refresher for the Civil Contingencies Act 2004
• Discuss EPM programme strategy
• Agree a framework and identify actions

The 'Working in Partnership' strategy framework was used as a basis for the workshop to identify a way forward with the management of duties under the Civil Contingencies Act 2004. 

Working in Partnership Framework Document

If you wish to view the document please find a copy on the Highways Agency portal or contact Russ Paine at russ.paine@highways.gsi.gov.uk 

Has this article been worthwhile reading? Why not take a moment to send us your comments, thoughts or questions. Please e-mail TIMbulletin@highways.gsi.gov.uk