Emergency Planning is how the government prepares and plans for emergencies, working nationally, locally and co-operatively to ensure civil protection in the UK.
Civil Contingencies Act 2004
The Civil Contingencies Act was brought in to ensure appropriate multi-agency working between emergency responders and Local Authorities. The Act establishes a clear set of roles and responsibilities for those involved in emergency preparation and response at the local level. From the Act, Local Authorities have seven duties to carry out. These are:
- Assess the risk of emergencies occurring and use this to inform contingency planning.
- Put in place emergency plans.
- Put in place business continuity management arrangements
- Put in place arrangements to make information available to the public about civil protection matters and maintain arrangements to warn, inform and advise the public in the event of an emergency.
- Share information with other local responders to enhance co-ordination.
- Co-operate with other local responders to enhance co-ordination and efficiency.
- Provide advice and assistance to businesses and voluntary organisations about business continuity management (local authorities only).
Pipeline Safety Regulations 1996
Local authorities have a duty under the Pipeline Safety Regulations 1996 to produce a plan which outlines a multi-agency emergency response to a high Pressure pipeline accident within their County.
Control of Major Accident Hazard Regulations 2015
The Control of Major Accident Hazards regulations (COMAH) 2015 requires all Local Authority areas that have an Upper Tier COMAH site to produce and test External Emergency Plans on a regular basis. This work is undertaken in partnership with other professional partners such as the site operators, Police, Fire & Rescue Service, Ambulance Service and Natural Resources Wales.
Radiation (Emergency Preparedness and Public Information) Regulations 2019
The requirements of Regulation 17 of REPPIR 2019 states that :-
Every local authority shall prepare and keep up to date, arrangements to supply, in the event of any radiation emergency in that local authority’s area (howsoever that emergency may arise), information and advice on the facts of the emergency, of the steps to be taken and as appropriate, of health protection measures applicable.