Plan for incidents involving animals

This standard is about preparing and planning for incidents involving animals.  It covers your ability to identify and gather information and use it to contribute to national, regional or local strategies and operational plans for dealing with incidents involving animals. It includes assessing animal risks for your area of coverage, identifying resources and developing plans for incidents involving animals. As part of this standard you will be expected to work with other agencies and owners/responsible persons.

This standard is recommended for those who have a strategic, tactical or operational role in dealing with incidents involving animals.

1. agree your role and responsibilities for responding to incidents involving animals with relevant others in your organisation
2. gather information about animal risk characteristics that are factors within  your location and area of responsibility
3. interpret sources of information identified about incidents involving animals in line with the requirements of your role within your role 
4. gather information that is up to date, relevant and meets your organisation’s knowledge requirements for incidents involving animals
5. identify risks of incidents involving animals to people, property and the environment in line with organisational risk assessment procedures
6. identify control measures to reduce risk to people, property and the environment in line with organisational risk assessment procedures
7. monitor data to identify triggers of increased risk of incidents involving animals in line with organisational risk assessment procedures 
8. contribute to risk management plans in line with organisational requirements organisation
9. develop up to date plans for incidents involving animals from  information gathered in line with organisation requirements   
10. establish the range of resources available to respond to incidents involving animals in line with organisational procedures
11. allocate resources to animal incident plans to meet your organisation’s requirements for response to incidents involving animals and animal rescue response strategy
12. share information about plans for incidents involving animals with relevant others in line with organisational procedures

1. safe working practices of your organisation when responding to incidents involving animals
2. hazards and risks of incidents involving animals affecting people, property and the environment
3. how to use risk assessment information to make decisions
4. how to apply decisions based on the assessment of risk
5. your organisation’s control measures to mitigate risk
6. policies and procedures that apply to your role in planning for incidents involving animals
7. protocol to be followed that applies to your role in planning for incidents involving animals
8. systems, tools, methods and templates suitable to use when  planning  information for incidents involving animals
9. your organisation’s requirements for maintaining plans for incidents involving animals
10. your role and responsibilities for planning and preparing for incidents involving animals including your area of responsibility
11. relevant others you need to work with when planning  for incidents involving animals and their role in such incidents
12. lines and methods of communication and reporting in the workplace
13. how to communicate clearly and effectively with others
14. how to treat others with respect and consideration, taking account of and accepting diversity
15. different sources of information available that can inform your understanding of incidents involving animals and how to access them
16. types of characteristics of incidents involving animals in your area and their impact
17. the importance of techniques for incidents involving animals and how to use them in the planning process
18. methods and techniques of preventing incidents involving animals
19. different resources available to respond to incidents involving animals
20. how resources can be used to control incidents involving animals

1. Sources and types of information

1.1 specialist animal rescue information1.2 location, use and transportation data1.3 local and national capability registers1.4 local, strategic and major incident fire and rescue plans and strategies1.5 historical incident information1.6 national, regional and local animal rescue strategies1.7 polices, guidance, standard operating procedures and risk assessments relevant to incidents involving animals1.8 relevant software and tools

2 Characteristics of incidents involving animals

2.1 animal behaviour2.2 human behaviour2.3 control of animals (including physical and chemical control)2.4 trigger points2.5 Generic risks take on a dynamic nature where animals involved

3 Risks

3.1 health and safety risks to people3.2 property, economic and commercial risk3.3 environmental risk3.4 risk management plans, such as Integrated Risk Management plans and Community Risk Registers

4 Others

4.1 BARTA (British Animal Rescue and Trauma Care Association)4.2 CFOA  ARPF (Animal Rescue Practitioners Forum)4.3 colleagues4.4 owners/responsible persons4.5 vets4.6 RSPCA4.7 SSPCA4.8 USPCA4.9 Trading standards4.10 DEFRA4.11 emergency services4.12 utility companies4.13 media4.14 members of the public4.15 transport services4.16 Search and Rescue Teams4.17 Local and National Authorities4.18 Research agencies4.19 voluntary agencies4.20 other agencies

5 Resources

5.1 internal resources5.2 external resources 5.3 personnel and their capabilities5.4 veterinary/specialist support5.5 equipment

​It is expected that this NOS will be used and applied in conjunction with other NOS which are applicable to your role in fire and rescue.

‘Fire & Rescue Operational Guidance - GRA 2.5 – Large animal rescues’ is available, and has been developed to provide UK Fire and Rescue Service (FRS) personnel with additional understanding and awareness of incidents involving large animals.