LS9.11 INCIDENT CONTROL DEFINITIONS

Section: LS9 Surf Emergency Response System Page: 1 of 1

Date: 20th September 2016

Purpose

To enable all emergency response agencies to have a common understanding a national agreement has been reached on the use and interpretation of the terms Control, Command and Coordination.

Policy

Surf Life Saving NSW (SLSNSW) provides the following definitions for use with lifesaving services to ensure effective operations.

Procedure

Definitions

Control

Control is the overall direction of response activities in an emergency situation. Authority for control is established in legislation or in an emergency response plan. It carries with it responsibility for allocating tasks to and coordinating other agencies in accordance with the needs of the situation. Control relates to situations and operates horizontally across agencies.

Command

Command is the internal direction of members and resource of an organisation in the performance of the organisations role and tasks.

Authority to command is established by agreement within an organisation. Command relates to individual organisation and operates vertically within an agency.

Coordination

Coordination involves the bringing together of agencies and other resources to support an emergency management response. It involves the systematic acquisition and application of resources (organisations, manpower and equipment) in accordance with the requirements imposed by the emergency or emergencies.