ASSESSING THE ROLE OF FIREFIGHTERS IN OIL SPILLS AND ENVIRONMENTAL EMERGENCIES

Abstract

Oil spills are environmental emergencies that are difficult to manage, with improper strategies causing long-lasting damages to the well-being of humans and ecosystems. Knowing how to properly prepare for, respond to and recover from both inland and offshore oil spills can significantly mitigate the devastating impact of such incidents, with firefighters both overseeing and implementing mitigation strategies. As few studies seek to pinpoint how exactly firefighters should approach oil spills, this study contributes to the body of knowledge by investigating the role of firefighters in such incidents, from the conceptual management principles to the more practically-applied mechanisms. The study conducted of a systematic review of 12 peer-reviewed English studies from the past twenty years, collected from five electronic databases (i.e. Google Scholar, ScienceDirect, Wiley Online Library, Scopus, ProQuest), which generated a conceptual framework with 2 major themes: best practices and procedures, and specialised skills and equipment, each further divided into 3 sub-themes and another 6 key elements, all of which have been scrutinised in relation to existing literature. Best practices include the formulation of clear and exhaustive Standard Operating Procedures that comply with local regulations, encompassing step-by-step protocols for fire management strategies, risk and resource management, training options and strategic reviews. The creation of an Incident Command System under the leadership of an Incident Commander who oversees the implementation of said procedures, along with an Incident Action Plan that details the tactics, structures and communication plans, are all important in facilitating the decision-making process, which is affected by the lack of access to knowledge and training. Familiarity with roles and responsibilities, coordination and communication are necessary for effective resource management, firefighters needing to use and maintain vehicles, firefighting tools (e.g. PPE, delivery devices, rescue tools, radios), specialised equipment (e.g. booms, skimmers, sorbents, dispersants), employing specialised skills (e.g. firefighting techniques, HAZWOPER training, maritime skills, biostimulation, bioaugmentation) and non-technical skills (e.g. physical and mental discipline, situational awareness, time and stress management). The key recommendation of this research is to employ this framework as an initial checklist to improving firefighting response strategies to environmental incidents.