Risk Management in Search & Rescue

Risk Management in Risk Management in Search & RescueSearch & Rescue

Captain Scott LaRochelle, U.S. Coast Guard Chief of Search & Rescue

What is risk management?What is risk management?

Who Is Responsible For Who Is Responsible For Performing Risk Performing Risk Management?Management?

EVERYONE!EVERYONE!

Principles of Risk Principles of Risk ManagementManagement

Accept no unnecessary riskAccept no unnecessary risk Accept necessary risk when Accept necessary risk when

benefits outweigh costsbenefits outweigh costs Make risk decisions at the Make risk decisions at the

appropriate levelappropriate level A continuous processA continuous process

Identify Mission/TasksIdentify Mission/TasksIdentify Mission/TasksIdentify Mission/Tasks

Assess RisksAssess RisksAssess RisksAssess Risks

Identify OptionsIdentify OptionsIdentify OptionsIdentify Options

Evaluate Risk vs. GainEvaluate Risk vs. GainEvaluate Risk vs. GainEvaluate Risk vs. Gain

Execute DecisionExecute DecisionExecute DecisionExecute Decision

Monitor SituationMonitor SituationMonitor SituationMonitor Situation

Risk Risk ManagemenManagemen

t Processt ProcessIdentify HazardsIdentify HazardsIdentify HazardsIdentify Hazards

Comm

unications &

Comm

unications &

Situational Awareness

Situational Awareness

Identify Mission TasksIdentify Mission TasksIdentify Mission TasksIdentify Mission Tasks

Assess RisksAssess RisksAssess RisksAssess Risks

Identify OptionsIdentify OptionsIdentify OptionsIdentify Options

Evaluate Risk vs. GainEvaluate Risk vs. GainEvaluate Risk vs. GainEvaluate Risk vs. Gain

Execute DecisionExecute DecisionExecute DecisionExecute Decision

Monitor SituationMonitor SituationMonitor SituationMonitor Situation

Risk Risk ManagemenManagemen

t Processt ProcessIdentify HazardsIdentify HazardsIdentify HazardsIdentify Hazards

Comm

unications &

Comm

unications &

Situational Awareness

Situational Awareness

Green, Amber, Red Green, Amber, Red (GAR)(GAR)

Six elements for consideration:Six elements for consideration: SupervisionSupervision PlanningPlanning Crew SelectionCrew Selection Crew FitnessCrew Fitness EnvironmentEnvironment Event ComplexityEvent Complexity

Assign a score 0 - 10 forAssign a score 0 - 10 foreach elementeach element

88

GAR RISK MANAGEMENT GAR RISK MANAGEMENT MODELMODEL

What mission task What mission task is being assessed?is being assessed?

SUPERVISIONSUPERVISIONIs supervision Is supervision

adequate?adequate?

PLANNINGPLANNINGDo you have enough Do you have enough

info and time?info and time?

CREW FITNESSCREW FITNESS Are they ready mentally Are they ready mentally

& physically? & physically?

CREW SELECTIONCREW SELECTIONDo you have enough Do you have enough

qual’d & experienced?qual’d & experienced?

ENVIRONMENTENVIRONMENT

How will on-scene conditions How will on-scene conditions affect performance?affect performance?

EVENTEVENTComplexityComplexity

CALCULATING RISK - GAR MODELCALCULATING RISK - GAR MODEL

0 23 44 60

GREEN

(Low Risk)

Amber

(Medium Risk)

RED

(High Risk)

GREENGREEN: Minimum risk: Minimum riskAMBERAMBER: Moderate risk - Attempt to minimize: Moderate risk - Attempt to minimizeREDRED: : High risk - High risk - Implement measures to reduce Implement measures to reduce

GAR Model in ActionGAR Model in ActionElementsElements Getting u/wGetting u/w Initial callInitial call On sceneOn scene

SupervisionSupervision

PlanningPlanning

Crew SelectionCrew Selection

Crew FitnessCrew Fitness

EnvironmentEnvironment

ComplexityComplexity

Green: 0-23 Amber: 23-44 Red: 44-60(Low risk) (Medium Risk) (High Risk)

4

2

5

2

2

1

4

6

5

2

3

4

7

9

9

2

10

9

Routine Mission Does Not Routine Mission Does Not Equal Low Risk MissionEqual Low Risk Mission

Identify Mission TasksIdentify Mission TasksIdentify Mission TasksIdentify Mission Tasks

Assess RisksAssess RisksAssess RisksAssess Risks

Identify OptionsIdentify OptionsIdentify OptionsIdentify Options

Evaluate Risk vs. GainEvaluate Risk vs. GainEvaluate Risk vs. GainEvaluate Risk vs. Gain

Execute DecisionExecute DecisionExecute DecisionExecute Decision

Monitor SituationMonitor SituationMonitor SituationMonitor Situation

Risk Risk ManagemenManagemen

t Processt ProcessIdentify HazardsIdentify HazardsIdentify HazardsIdentify Hazards

Comm

unications &

Comm

unications &

Situational Awareness

Situational Awareness

Evaluating riskEvaluating riskRule # 1 Rule # 1 Never accept Never accept HIGHHIGH risk for risk for LOWLOW gains!!gains!!

Rule # 2Rule # 2Never accept Never accept HIGHHIGH risk for risk for LOWLOW gains!!gains!!

How Much Risk Is How Much Risk Is Appropriate?Appropriate?

To save a life?To save a life?To protect property?To protect property?To protect the environment?To protect the environment?

RISK ASSESSMENTRISK ASSESSMENT

ReviewReview

F/V SEA KINGF/V SEA KING 11 JAN 91 on Columbia River Bar (Pacific 11 JAN 91 on Columbia River Bar (Pacific

Ocean off Washington coast)Ocean off Washington coast) Capsized and Sank while in towCapsized and Sank while in tow 1 USCG member & 2 fishermen died1 USCG member & 2 fishermen died Coast Guard Assets Involved:Coast Guard Assets Involved:

Heavy Weather Motor Life BoatsHeavy Weather Motor Life Boats Cutter Cutter IRISIRIS (180-ft Buoy Tender) (180-ft Buoy Tender) Air Station Astoria HH-65'sAir Station Astoria HH-65's

F/V SEA KINGF/V SEA KING

Questions?Questions?