Why Do Major Disasters Make the Work of Responders More Hazardous?
Most emergencies are comparatively small scale. One or more specialized local response organizations can handle them effectively. In these situations, steps to ensure responder safety are usually well established and familiar. But the singular nature of a major disaster presents special challenges to safety management. For example, unlike smaller emergencies, a major disaster can cover a wide geographic area, present many highly varied hazards, and take from several days to several months to contain. In short, not only does a major disaster expose emergency workers to a multitude of risks they would not normally face, it requires a complex response operation that can involve many different organizations. In such situations, it is crucial to have effective systems in place for managing the safety of the numerous responders on the scene.
