Incident Command System / Unified Command

An Incident Command System/Unified Command (ICS/UC) is an efficient on-site tool to manage all emergency response incidents, and UC is a necessary tool for managing multi-jurisdictional responses to ammonia releases. Understanding the concepts of ICS/UC is as important for local responders, who generally arrive on-scene first and thus are most likely to implement the management system, as it is for state and federal organizations that may be joining the ICS/UC. The senior emergency response official responding to an emergency is responsible to:

• Coordinate and control all emergency responders [29 CFR 1910.120(q)(3)(i)]
• Identify the ammonia hazards and conditions [29 CFR 1910.120(q)(3)(ii)]
• Implement emergency response operations and assure that the personal protective equipment worn is appropriate for ammonia [29 CFR 1910.120(q)(3)(iii)]
• Ensure employees wear a positive pressure self-contained breathing apparatus while engaged in emergency response [29 CFR 1910.120(q)(3)(iv)]
• Limiting the number of emergency response personnel at the emergency site [29 CFR 1910.120(q)(3)(v)]
• Ensure back-up personnel are standing by with equipment ready to provide assistance or rescue [29 CFR 1910.120(q)(3)(vi)]
• Designate a safety officer with specific responsibility to identify and evaluate hazards and provide direction [29 CFR 1910.120(q)(3)(vii)]

To learn more about Ammonia Refrigeration visit our Ammonia Refrigeration Safety Online Training web page.