Risk Management in Search & Rescue

1. Risk Management in Search & Rescue Captain Scott LaRochelle, U.S. Coast Guard Chief of Search & Rescue

2. What is risk management?

3. Who Is Responsible For Performing Risk Management? EVERYONE!

4. Principles of Risk Management • Accept no unnecessary risk • Accept necessary risk when benefits outweigh costs • Make risk decisions at the appropriate level • A continuous process

5. Risk Management Process Identify Mission/Tasks Identify Hazards Assess Risks Identify Options Evaluate Risk vs. Gain Communications & Situational Awareness Execute Decision Monitor Situation

6. Risk Management Process Identify Mission Tasks Identify Hazards Assess Risks Identify Options Evaluate Risk vs. Gain Communications & Situational Awareness Execute Decision Monitor Situation

7. Green, Amber, Red (GAR) • Six elements for consideration: • Supervision • Planning • Crew Selection • Crew Fitness • Environment • Event Complexity • Assign a score 0 - 10 foreach element

8. GAR RISK MANAGEMENT MODEL What mission task is being assessed? PLANNING Do you have enough info and time? SUPERVISIONIs supervision adequate? CREW SELECTION Do you have enough qual’d & experienced? CREW FITNESS Are they ready mentally & physically? ENVIRONMENT How will on-scene conditions affect performance? EVENT Complexity

9. CALCULATING RISK - GAR MODEL 0 23 44 60 RED (High Risk) Amber (Medium Risk) GREEN (Low Risk) • GREEN: Minimum risk • AMBER: Moderate risk - Attempt to minimize • RED: High risk - Implement measures to reduce

10. GAR Model in Action 4 6 5 2 3 4 7 9 9 2 10 9 4 2 5 2 2 1 Green: 0-23Amber: 23-44Red: 44-60 (Low risk)(Medium Risk) (High Risk)

11. Routine Mission Does Not Equal Low Risk Mission

12. Risk Management Process Identify Mission Tasks Identify Hazards Assess Risks Identify Options Evaluate Risk vs. Gain Communications & Situational Awareness Execute Decision Monitor Situation

13. Evaluating risk Rule # 1 Never accept HIGH risk for LOWgains!! Rule # 2 Never accept HIGH risk for LOWgains!!

14. How Much Risk Is Appropriate? • To save a life? • To protect property? • To protect the environment?

15. RISK ASSESSMENT

16. Review

17. F/V SEA KING • 11 JAN 91 on Columbia River Bar (Pacific Ocean off Washington coast) • Capsized and Sank while in tow • 1 USCG member & 2 fishermen died • Coast Guard Assets Involved: • Heavy Weather Motor Life Boats • Cutter IRIS (180-ft Buoy Tender) • Air Station Astoria HH-65's

18. F/V SEA KING

19. Questions?