EMSI Assists the Energy Industry in Establishing an ICS Position Qualification Standard

Several global energy companies with operations around the world have begun implementing a Position Qualification Standard (PQS) which establishes standardized training and competency-based evaluation of Incident Command System (ICS) positions.  The new standard establishes competencies that must be demonstrated on incidents, events or exercises before an individual can be deemed …

Chevron Corporation Establishes ICS Position Qualification Standard

The Chevron Corporation has begun implementing a Position Qualification Standard (PQS) which establishes standardized training and competency based evaluation of Incident Command System (ICS) positions.  The standard establishes competencies that must be demonstrated on incidents, events or exercises before an individual can be deemed qualified.  Each of these competencies and …

Time to Smell the Roses!

Hello to all of our colleagues and friends who have contributed to both Pat’s and my professional careers.  You may have noticed that we are not as active in EMSI as in the past.  Pat and I have decided to focus our future efforts in another direction.  I have personally …

Responsibility for the Selection and Development of Incident Strategies: Command or Operations?

Incidents using the Incident Command System require a set of objectives, a strategy or strategies to accomplish these objectives and a series of tactical work assignments directing resources to accomplish these strategies.  It is well understood that the Incident Commander or Unified Command creates and establishes Incident Objectives.  It is …

Types of Command

The Incident Commander (IC) has overall authority and responsibility for managing all operations at the incident site.  This individual(s) is/are responsible for all incident activities including the development of the objectives and strategies and the ordering and release of resources; therefore, it is essential that the selection of Incident Command …

A Tribute to an American Hero

EMSI recently had the pleasure of presenting an ICS-341, Incident Response Planning course, for USCG Sector Los Angeles/Long Beach at Fort McArthur. Seventeen members of USCG active duty and auxiliary attended the course taught September 20-24, 2010. This course teaches skills needed to implement the Incident Command System planning process …

The Mission and the Environment

One of the most positive developments in emergency response in recent years has been the national use of NIMS ICS. ICS has gained acceptance in public safety, private sector, and non-emergency event planning and has been applied to incidents and events ranging from Hurricane Katrina to the Olympic Games, to …

The Stop Work Authority

In the relatively static and well-defined operational conditions of a wide variety of manufacturing facilities, a broadly-trained Stop Work program can be one of many health and safety policies and procedures. Generally speaking, the Stop Work is applied when the following conditions exist: Conditions or the work plan changes You …

Just In Time Training

Just in Time Training (JIT) is a term used to refer to training that takes place on an incident in which students are actual responders. The purpose of this type of training is to improve an individual’s performance, understand how their position interacts with other members of the team, and …