Major incident and crisis management

1

Beacon International College

Major Incident and Crisis Management (HLT5052)

Level 5.

COURSE OUTLINE AND ASSESSMENT BRIEF

Module: Major Incident and Crisis Management

Tutor: Mohan Balagopal ([email protected])

Assessment type: Individual written assignment (100% weighting)

Aims: This module will provide students with a significant understanding of Major

Incident and Crisis Management planning in an event context and how this

translates into a practical operational time sensitive plan involving the various key

stakeholders. Students will be able to identify the range of stakeholders involved in

such processes and the strategies and operational practices they are required to

implement in relation to major incidents and crises.

Learning outcomes: By the end of the module, students will be able to: -

1. Clarify what a major incident is and a typical sequence of events surrounding major incidents 2. Assess the practical benefits of Major Incident and Crisis Management 3. Discuss the roles and responsibilities of the range of stakeholders involved in major incident and crisis

management and understand the content of a Major Incident and Crisis Management plan

4. Research and develop an operational Major Incident and Crisis Management plan 5. Apply the content of an effective time sensitive Major Incident and Crisis Management plan to an event

scenario

Indicative content

 Major incidents at events, exploring their effects and impacts

 Event planning pre and post and damage limitation

 Corporate identity and protection in crisis

 Media - Management, operations and responsibilities

 UK and European Health and Safety Legislation and regulations

 Duty of Care and the social responsibility of the event and the management team

 Stakeholder liaison, management, interactions and responsibilities

 Table top planning, design, operation, planning and responsibilities

 Management issues within the event sector

 Major Incident and Crisis Management practical workshops & role play

 Major Incident and Crisis Management plan and other supporting documentation

 Environmental and sustainability issues in relation to Major Incident and Crisis Management

Required reading

‒ Bernstein, D. (2011) Manager's guide to Crisis Management. London: McGraw-Hill Education Publishing.

‒ Crandall, W. (2013) Crisis management (2nd Edition). London: Sage. ‒ Fernandez, L; Merzer, M. (2003) Jane’s Crisis Communications Handbook. Surrey: Janes information

group. (Available as an E Book)

2

‒ Fagel, M. (2013) Crisis Management and Emergency Planning: Preparing for Today's Challenges. Abingdon: CRC Press.

‒ Silvers, R. (2008) Risk Management for Meetings and Events. Oxford (UK) : Elsevier Butterworth- Heinemann Publishing

The following journals/trade publications contain papers relevant to this module:

International Journal of Event Management Research

Disaster Recovery Institute Singapore - https://www.dri-singapore.org/home.php

Audience

Access All Areas

Economist

Event

Main Event

Stand Out

Total Production International

Lecture Program

Lecture 1 Welcome and introductions

Importance of a Major Incident and Crisis Management plan why have one?

Characteristics of a Disaster.

Lecture 2 Major Incident and Crisis Management plan and other supporting documentation: the time line

being proactive rather than reactive.

Case studies and tutorials

Lecture 3 Major incident management: exploring their effects and impacts, the management issues, the

impacts on the event sector

Case studies and tutorials

Lecture 4 The team, who will manage the situation: Stakeholder liaison, management, interactions and

responsibilities “The Duty of care “.

Case studies and tutorials

Lecture 5 Media management the release of information.

Briefing for the press conference, operations and responsibilities, protecting corporate identity

and limiting negative critique, dealing with the management, operations and responsibilities

Case studies and tutorials

Lecture 6 The control room: logging of vital data, appraising the situation, bronze, silver and gold

command.

Case studies and tutorials

Lecture 7 Security planning, what they do and how they can help? Looking at the importance of your

security team to support your event to prevent Major incidents occurring

Case studies and tutorials

3

Assessment 1 – Individual written assignment (100%)

Submission deadlines: Draft submission in week 4 on 28 January 2021 by 1800hrs in Turnitin via Moodle

Final submission in week 9 on 11 March 2021 by 1800hrs in Turnitin via Moodle

You need to produce your own crisis plan for an event of over 2,500 people - 2,000-word limit individual

assignment

Your plan must be based on a “real” event that will take place in or around Singapore in 2021. You must

submit via email to your lecturer your selected event by week 2 for approval or you will not be able to

continue with your assessment. Your crisis plan needs to include evidence of your own research into existing

events in Singapore along with crisis and risk management theory.

There are a number of aspects relating to this assignment that need to be considered and these are detailed in

the marking schedule below.

Firstly, you need to identify the event, define what a Major Incident / Crisis is and consider the range of

potential major incidents and crisis which could occur at your chosen event. You are then required to select

one of the areas below and discuss how a major incident and crisis management plan would be used to help

manage your chosen situation.

To give your report focus you should choose one of the four areas listed below to discuss the recommended

considerations and procedures in managing your selected situation:

1. Natural disaster, fire, high winds, rain, flooding.

2. Terrorist attack.

3. Crowd disorder, violence, missing persons.

4. Structural collapse.

Once you have selected one of the issues above explain how your plan will be used to manage the chosen

incidents. Relate this to your event and your crisis plan.

When the situation happens, how will you communicate with the public and the press? Think of what you

might say to and how you might manage the public, the press and the emergency services. This can include

pre- scripted responses and other such associated responses.

In terms of referencing please also use Health and Safety legislation and regulations to guide your work, and

where possible give an example of a real case study within the crisis plan section.

There will be progress feedback session to see how you are progressing with your work via consultation and

draft submissions.

Additional Submission Guidelines

Students must follow submission guidelines as indicated in the Student Submission Guidelines document

uploaded in Moodle.

4

Marking guide: Individual written assignment

Criteria Comments Marks

Draft submission

Draft submitted on time and correctly /10

Introduction

Outline of the event and key event details e.g.

capacity, venue and location, audience profile,

entertainer profile, timing, etc.

/10

Major Incidents

Discuss the range of likely major incidents which

could occur at your chosen event and give a brief

precis of their likely impacts and how major

incident plans can benefit event organisers.

/20

Detailed plan and Recommendations

From the range of potential major incidents select

one and discuss how would you apply a crisis

management plan to manage and mitigate the

impacts of your chosen scenario?

1. Outline the typical sequence of events

along with a time sensitive Major Incident

and Crisis Management plan.

2. Produce a communication and control

plan including communication chart –

relating to your chosen scenario.

3. Discuss the roles and responsibilities of

the range of stakeholders involved in the

major incident and crisis management

including categories of staff and blue light

services.

4. Identify and discuss the location of the

control centre, equipment required and

crisis kit.

5. Discuss the evacuation procedure -

Contingency plans.

Consider what would be required in terms of

communicating with different stakeholders e.g.

public information, staff briefing and press/media

briefing information i.e. messages, materials and

how these would be disseminated.

/50

Referencing

Strict application of Harvard Referencing System

Demonstrated depth of reading and research

Minimum 10 ACADEMIC references

/10

TOTAL /100

Overall comments

5

Marking Criteria

90-100% A quite exceptional and outstanding answer, providing insights which would not be available

publicly, and would, with some editing, be publishable. In addition to the features of the next section, this

range is distinguished by superior organization, economic use of language and totally comprehensive, given

the conditions of the exercise.

80-89% An answer which demonstrates an excellent understanding of the question and of the complexity of

the issues involved. There is a sound basis of relevant factual knowledge and/or the theoretical issues

involved. Most of the important issues are dealt with in a detailed, specific and systematic way. There is

either some measure of original thinking in the answer or an accurate and comprehensive account is given in

a way which demonstrates understanding, for example by structuring the material such that it could not have

been based just on reproduction of lecture notes and programme material. Evidence of creativity, critical

approach, and wide reading beyond the core subject matter.

70-79% As above but a slightly less consistently excellent level. Alternatively, this range of mark may be

given for an answer which, while not having original insights, gives comprehensive and accurate coverage of

the issues at a high level throughout the answer, without significant omissions or errors.

60-69% An answer which demonstrates a clear understanding of the question and grasp of the complexity of

the issues involved. There is a sound basis of relevant factual knowledge and/or of theoretical issues

involved, with few significant errors. The issues involved are dealt with in a systematic way. Some of the

issues may be limited in critical approach but organized to display a comprehensive understanding and

factual information essentially complete.

50-59% An answer which demonstrates an understanding of the major or basic issues in the question. There

is a basis of factual knowledge and/or of relevant theoretical issues. Although some errors may be present,

the overall framework of the answer is sensible and accurate. Most of all the issues may be dealt with at the

level of obviously available programme material given to the student. The answer shows planning in its

construction, with a clear train of thought or development of argument present. Average competent

performance, well presented, demonstrating understanding of most of the essential issues.

40-49% An answer which demonstrates a limited understanding of the major or basic issues in the question.

There is some relevant factual knowledge and/or awareness of theoretical issues, but it is patchy. A few

significant errors may be present. The answer is not well planned, with little development of argument, and

often much irrelevant material is present. Lacks clarity of expression. The lower range (40-45) would

include an answer where relevant factual knowledge and/or awareness of theoretical issues is poor and

confused, but not absent. Many significant errors may be present. The answer is poorly planned, with little

clear train of thought or development of argument, and much of the answer may be irrelevant.

38-39% An answer which fails to demonstrate any appreciable understanding of the major issues or basic

issues of the question. Relevant factual knowledge and/or awareness of theoretical issues, if present at all, is

very poor and confused and very limited. Many significant errors may be present. Much or all of the answer

may be irrelevant. Poorly organized and very limited in scope.

30-37% Attempts an answer, but relevant factual knowledge and/or awareness of theoretical issues is very

poor and confused, and very limited with many significant errors.

10-29% Not clear that an answer is properly attempted. Only a few minor points made at all relevant to the

answer and these may be superficial. Most material is irrelevant or incorrect.

1-9% An answer that is so short or irrelevant that only a few marks are justified. For example, one or two

points may be made which show some peripheral awareness of certain possibly relevant issues.

6

Graduate Attributes

It is School policy that Graduate Skills should be embedded into module delivery and assessment. The

interactive nature of the seminars fulfils most of the requirements by encouraging discussion, organization and

communication, and group discussion. By examining the assessment criteria, you will note that Graduate Skills

are also contained within them. More specifically, the following Skills are included in the module overall:

 Problem Solving and Analytical Ability

 Inter-Personal Skills and Networking

 Global Citizenship (Diversity and Sustainability)

 Flexibility and Adaptability (Life-Long learning)

 Effective Communication

 Creativity and Innovation