BRISBANE CITY COUNCIL LOCAL DISASTER MANAGEMENT PLAN

CHAPTER 8 – ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH SUB-PLAN (V2.1)

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BRISBANE CITY COUNCIL LOCAL DISASTER MANAGEMENT PLAN

CHAPTER 8 – ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH SUB-PLAN (V2.1)

Brisbane City Council

Local Disaster Management Plan

CHAPTER 8:
ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH SUB-PLAN

July 2014 edition

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BRISBANE CITY COUNCIL LOCAL DISASTER MANAGEMENT PLAN

CHAPTER 8 – ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH SUB-PLAN (V2.1)

This Environmental Health Sub-plan is an operational approach plan of the Brisbane City Council Local Disaster Management Plan and has been endorsed by the Brisbane City Local Disaster Management Group (Brisbane LDMG).

This Environmental Health Sub-plan will be reviewed, practised and updated annually in accordance with the procedures mandated by the Brisbane LDMG.

AMENDMENTS AND REVIEW

This Environmental Health Sub-plan (EHSP) will be reviewed, practiced and updated annually in accordance with the procedures mandated by the Brisbane LDMG.

It shall be reviewed at least once each year by a committee of appropriately qualified and experienced personnel. The committee shall, as a minimum, consist of the Principal Officer, Environmental Health, an Environmental Health Team Leader, Business Manager - Environmental Health and a representative of Brisbane LDMG.

  1. Proposed amendments to this sub-planare to be forwarded in writing to the Manager, Disaster Management Office (MDMO), who may approve minor amendments.
  2. Proposed amendments that affect the intent of this sub-plan, roles and responsibilities or external agencies must be endorsed by the Local Disaster Coordinator (LDC) and/or the MDMO and may be forwarded to the Brisbane LDMG for approval if required. This type of amendment is referred to as a major amendment.
  3. Endorsed amendments are to be listed in the table below.
  4. Version control of this sub-plan is managed by the Disaster Management Office. Reissue of this sub-plan following amendment or review will be recorded in the table below and advice of reissue will be distributed throughout the disaster management network. Recipients should take all appropriate action to ensure they are in possession of the most recent version, and that previous versions in both hard copy and electronic forms are archived accordingly. Further information can be requested by contacting the Disaster Management Office.

Environmental Health Sub-plan Version Control

Version / Date / Reviewed by / Endorsed by / Comments
1.0 / March 2012 / Manager, Disaster Management Office / Chair, Brisbane LDMG
District Disaster Coordinator / 2012 official version
1.1 / July 2012 / Manager, Compliance & Regulatory Services
Coordinator, Disaster Management Office / Manager, Disaster Management Office / Revisions
1.2 / February 2013 / Manager, Compliance & Regulatory Services
Coordinator, Disaster Management Office / Manager, Disaster Management Office / Revisions
2.0 / May 2013 / Manager, Disaster Management Office / Chair, Brisbane LDMG
District Disaster Coordinator / 2013 official version
2.1 / November 2013 / Senior Project Officer, Environmental Health / Manager, Disaster Management Office / Minor revisions
  1. This sub-plan is to be reviewed:
  • On activation of an event requiring the use of this sub-plan
  • On activation of similar disaster management plans in other states, territories or overseas where considered possible
  • Upon annual review of Council’s Local Disaster Management Plan in accordance with the Disaster Management Act 2003 (Qld)
  1. This sub-plan, together with its supporting standard operating procedures (SOPs), is to be tested annually. The MDMO is to brief relevant stakeholders and the Brisbane LDMG on the results of testing this plan.
  2. In accordance with legislation, the Brisbane Local Disaster Management Plan and all its underpinning sub-plans will be approved by the Chair of the Brisbane LDMG annually.

REFERENCES

Table 2 summarises a comprehensive, but not exhaustive list of the many inter-related documents that provide authority for the Brisbane City Council (Council) Environmental Health Sub-plan.

Table 1: Environmental Health Reference List

References
A / Disaster Management Act 2003, effective 21 May2014
B / Brisbane City Council Disaster Management Plan, effective July 2014
C / Queensland Health, (2005), Central Public Health Unit Network - Disaster Management Plan, Queensland Government
D / Emergency Management Australia, (1999), Australian Emergency Management Series, Australian Government.
E / World Health Organisation (2002), Environmental Health in Emergencies and Disaster – A practical guide
F / Brisbane City Council Brisbane Incident Management System (BIMS)
G / Australian Red Cross (2012),Preferred Sheltering Practices for Emergency Sheltering in Australia
H / Queensland Local Disaster Management Guidelines, September 2012

TABLE OF CONTENTS

AMENDMENTS AND REVIEW

Environmental Health Sub-plan Version Control

REFERENCES

Table 1: Environmental Health Reference List

1.0INTRODUCTION

1.1Audience

1.2Custodian

1.3Authority

1.4Aim

1.5Objectives

1.6Supporting Documents

2.0VULNERABILITY AND CAPACITY ASSESSMENT

2.1Hazard Identification

2.2Environmental Health risk assessment

2.3Review of vulnerability

3.0PREVENTION AND MITIGATION

3.1Risk Mitigation

3.2Preparedness

4.0EMERGENCY RESPONSE

4.1Activation of Environmental Health Sub-plan

4.2Coordination and Control

4.3Recall of Personnel After Hours

4.4Roles and Responsibilities

4.5Communication

5.0REHABILITATION AND RECOVERY

5.1Debriefing the Incident

5.2Restocking Resources

5.3Reviewing Policies and Procedures

6.0Appendices

6.1Appendix 1 - Environmental Health Threats

6.2Appendix 2 – Environmental Health Hazardous Events Mitigation

6.3Appendix 3 – Environmental Health Sub-plan Roles and Responsibilities

6.4Appendix 4 – Acronyms and Abbreviations

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BRISBANE CITY COUNCIL LOCAL DISASTER MANAGEMENT PLAN

CHAPTER 8 – ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH SUB-PLAN (V2.1)

1.0INTRODUCTION

Environmental health is concerned with the investigation, assessment, and management of the physical, chemical, biological, and social factors in our environment that have the potential to impact upon human health and wellbeing. In managing these factors, environmental health focuses on creating and maintaining sustainable environments that permit human development, enhance human health and wellbeing, and ensure environmental protection.

During hazardous events, there is a range of environmental health issues that may need to be addressed including:

food safety / vector control
water safety / disposal of dead
emergency shelters / infectious diseases
waste and excreta disposal / dangerous goods
personal hygiene / environmental pollution

Council’sLocal Disaster Management Plan outlines Council’s need for thorough planning and cooperation at all levels in the prevention, preparation for, response to and recovery from hazardous events. This EHSP focuses on managing the environmental health risks that have the potential to affect Brisbane and South East Queensland as a result of hazardous events. The EHSP has been prepared as a functional support plan for, and must be read and interpreted in conjunction with, Council’s Local Disaster Management Plan.

1.1Audience

This EHSP has been prepared for Council, the Lord Mayor, the Brisbane LDMG, Council business units, and key external stakeholders.

1.2Custodian

The MDMO, on behalf of Council, is the custodian of this EHSP. The custodian has the responsibility for implementing, evaluating, testing, reviewing and updating this plan. The custodian is also to ensure proper quality, security, integrity, consistency, privacy, confidentiality and accessibility of the plan.

The Custodian’s contact details are:

Title:Manager, Disaster Management Office

Contact:+61 7 3403 8888

1.3Authority

Council’sLocal Disaster Management Plan and this Environmental Health Sub-plan have been developed pursuant to the Disaster Management Act. Council environmental health practitioners have been authorised through their appointment and delegation to undertake certain roles and responsibilities in relation to the legislated functions and powers of Council.

Council personnel delegated this authority to include officers holding any of the following positions:

  • Principal Officer Environmental Health
  • Environmental Health Team Leader
  • Senior Environmental Health Officer
  • Environmental Health Officer
  • Business Manager Environmental Health

Key legislation covering functions, powers and authorisations of environmental health practitioners is included in the following Acts (and their subordinate Regulations):

  • City of Brisbane Act 2010
  • Environmental Protection Act 1994
  • Food Act 2006
  • Public Health Act 2005
  • Public Health (Infection Control for Personal Appearance Services) Act 2003
  • Any relevant Brisbane City Council local laws and ordinances

In the event of a disaster the chairperson of the State Disaster Management Group or District Disaster Management Group may authorise any or all of Council’s environmental health practitioners or officers of other disciplines to exercise declared disaster powers for a disaster situation. In such a situation the following legislation applies:

Disaster Management Act 2003 (Qld); and

Public Safety Preservation Act 1986.

1.4Aim

The EHSP aims to mitigate and manage potential, imminent or actual environmental health risks within Brisbane and South East Queensland before, during, and after hazardous events.

1.5Objectives

The mitigation and management of environmental health risks shall be achieved by:

  1. Delivering best practice environmental health services using preventative principles.
  2. Planning and preparing for an environmental health response to hazardous events.
  3. Integrating Council’s environmental health resources with other stakeholders.
  4. Delivering a timely and effective environmental health response during and after a hazardous event.
  5. Providing advice, assistance and action with regard to environmental health risks before, during and after a hazardous event.
  6. Ensuring recovery strategies manage both the short- and long-term environmental health risks and restore the community’s capability to mitigate these risks quickly and effectively with appropriate regard to the type of hazardous event that has occurred.
  7. Supporting Documents

The EHSP shall be supported by the following documents:

  • Environmental Health Incident Response Log
  • Environmental Health Incident and Disaster Response Standard Operating Procedure

Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) will also be created for specific environmental health threats in order to appropriately deploy environmental health resources in an emergency situation. These supporting documents can be found on the Local Government Toolbox website ( cover specific environmental health threats such as:

  • Pandemic influenza
  • Flooding
  • Food-borne illness outbreak
  • Contaminant release.

2.0VULNERABILITY AND CAPACITY ASSESSMENT

2.1Hazard Identification

In relation to the EHSP, a hazardous event creates environmental health risks directly through either a short- or long-term disruption to basic services (such as potable water supply, sanitation, waste management services and/or power supply) and/or through damage to critical infrastructure, businesses (particularly regulated businesses) and/or dwellings (particularly dwellings of high risk populations).

Identified hazards that create or magnify environmental health risks include:

  • Fire (including bushfire)
  • Flood
  • Earthquake
  • Communicable disease outbreak
  • Acts of terror
  • Contaminated water supply
  • Food-borne illness
  • Dangerous goods incidents
  • Disruption to essential infrastructure (power, water, sewerage)
  • Environmental contamination
  • Riot or other significant public disorder.

Council acknowledges the risks that particular hazards present and these have been addressed in this sub-plan as specific environmental health threats. It is acknowledged that not all threats can be known and as such this sub-plan ensures that key issues in responding to environmental health emergencies are identified and practised. (Refer to Appendix 8.1)

2.2Environmental Health risk assessment

The qualitative risk assessment located in Chapter 1 of the Local Disaster Management Plan informs Council’s Environmental Health Disaster Management arrangements. It provides a descriptive measure of the likelihood, consequence and overall risk rating of natural disasters and non-natural disasters that may affect the city of Brisbane. The model that underpins the emergency risk management process is based on the Australian Standard AS/NZS 4360:2004 for risk management.

In addition to the qualitative risk assessment in Chapter 1, Appendix 8.1 provides a list of environmental health impacts that are a direct or indirect result of a hazardous event. It can be used to trigger environmental health mitigation procedures for a particular hazardous event.

2.3Review of vulnerability

A review of Brisbane’s vulnerability to hazardous events that may impact upon environmental health conditions should be undertaken on an annual basis. The review should include a qualitative and quantitative risk assessment. The review of vulnerability can be completed in collaboration with Brisbane LDMG, Queensland Health, Queensland Fire and Rescue Services, and any other key stakeholders.

3.0PREVENTION AND MITIGATION

3.1Risk Mitigation

Risk mitigation involves measures taken in advance of a disaster aimed at decreasing or eliminating its impacts on society and environment. Environmental health prevention and mitigation involves regulatory and physical measures to ensure that emergencies are prevented, or their effects are mitigated.

For a list of environmental healththreats refer to Appendix 8.1. In addition to possible mitigation procedures listed in the table at Appendix 8.2, all Environmental Health Officers are to receive training in disaster management and participate in annual exercises. The Environmental Health SOP can be used as a resource to further direct mitigation strategies.

3.2Preparedness

Training and Exercises

Training and exercises shall be undertaken to ensure that all relevant personnel are familiar with the EHSP and any related policies and procedures.

Training: Training shall be undertaken on an annual basis. All environmental health practitioners shall be trained in general disaster management, the EHSP and subordinate procedures, and the Environmental Health Emergency Response Service protocols and procedures. Training must ensure that the officers are able to understand the Sub-plan and use the relevant procedures effectively. A record of training shall be maintained.

Exercises: The EHSP shall be practised at least annually. Exercises may range from detailed desktop scenarios to full-scale operational exercises. Relevant personnel shall be advised of pending exercises; however, the content and specific times of exercises should be concealed to ensure an effective test of capability. Exercises should be developed around a realistic scenario with only the exercise coordinator/s aware of the exercise plot as this will ensure the best possible learning outcomes.

During exercises, observers should be used to keep detailed records of response times, processes, decisions, challenges, problems and any other pertinent information. A detailed debrief must be conducted with all personnel involved within 48 hours of an exercise. A full report must be submitted to the Chief Executive Officer (CEO), the Branch Manager CARS, and the MDMO.

4.0EMERGENCY RESPONSE

4.1Activation of Environmental Health Sub-plan

If required, the EHSP will be activated automatically by the Local Disaster Management Plan or on direction from the Lord Mayor, the CEO, or Brisbane LDMG. The Brisbane LDMG will then direct the Local Disaster Coordination Centre (LDCC) or Customer Contact Centre to notify the relevant personnel of the activation of the Plan. Relevant Environmental Health Officer (EHO) contacts can be found on Council’s Brisbane Incident System Management (BIMS) Online site or can be accessed via the Disaster Management Office.

4.2Coordination and Control

When the EHSP is activated, environmental health responses will be controlled by the Branch Manager,CARS or delegate and coordinated by the Principal Officer, Environmental Health in collaboration with the Business Manager, Environmental Health. Figure 1 indicates the chain of command when this Sub-plan is activated.

Command and control of teams in the field will rest with Business Manager, Environmental Health unless otherwise specified by the MDMO, Manager CARS, or Principal Officer Environmental Health.


4.3Recall of Personnel After Hours

When the EHSP is activated, environmental health personnel may be recalled to provide sufficient resources to deal with the event. If a minor hazardous event (level 1 or 2) activation occurs at a regional level (e.g. minor pollution incident), the on-call Environmental Health Incident duty officer will respond to the event. If additional resources are required then the on-call escalation manager is to be contacted.

If a major hazardous event happens, e.g. major chemical spill (level 3 or 4 activation), the LDCC will inform the Manager CARS who in turn will inform the Principal Officer Environmental Health and Business Managers of staff requirements. Refer to Section 1 for more detail on activation levels.

Staff will be contacted via the call centre or staff contact list and instructed to attend a designated rally point. The Manager CARS, Principal Officer Environmental Health and Regional Team Leaders are to have in their possession an up-to-date hard copy of staff contact details.

Remuneration for on-call work and recall to work during hazardous events.All personnel responding in disaster situations shall be remunerated in line with Council’s Enterprise Bargaining Agreement and Salaried Staff Award. This includes normal pay during normal business hours, standard on-call rates and standard penalty rates for call outs or recall to work outside of normal business hours.

4.4Roles and Responsibilities

The roles and responsibilities of organisations and individuals are shown in Appendix 8.3.

4.5Communication

Open and effective communication both within Council and with external agencies is imperative. Landline telephones and mobile telephones must not be relied upon as the only source of communication. Fully charged and maintained Motorola radios must be available to officers.

Communicating with the media

No statement shall be made to the media unless authorised. All communication to the media is to be coordinated by the LDCC. Alternatively, if the LDCC is not operational, communication to the media must be made under the authority of the Lord Mayor’s Office, Chairpersons and staff of the Media Relations Unit, Corporate Communications. All media and public relations enquiries are to be directed to the Senior Media and Public Relations Officer, Corporate Communications.

Communicating with the public

Dissemination of environmental health information may be required as a result of a hazardous event. Corporate Communications will work with the Contact Centre to disseminate public information via the LDCC and will work in conjunction with the liaison officers and the lead agents. Distribution of environmental health information must be on the authority of the Branch Manager, Compliance and Regulatory Services. In some instances other agencies may assume the lead role for specific aspects of environmental health communication. Council staff should be made aware of such communication as people will look to Council for confirmation.