The Costs of Poor Incident Management

The emergency service industry is an essential part of our society, responsible for responding to critical incidents that can happen at any time.

Poor incident management can result in severe costs that have long-lasting impacts to both emergency responders and members of the public.

In this newsletter, we will discuss the costs of poor incident management within the emergency service industry.

Firstly, let's understand what incident management is within the emergency service industry.

Incident management is the process of identifying, analysing, and responding to any critical incidents that occur, including accidents, emergencies, natural disasters, civil disturbances & acts of terror.

Effective incident management ensures that the emergency service personnel can respond promptly and effectively, minimizing the impact of the incident.

Now let’s dive into the costs of poor incident management within the emergency service industry, the first cost is the impact on emergency responders.

The impact of poor incident management on emergency responders, no matter the speed and effectiveness of an incident’s resolution, is that participation in the incident can have long-lasting impacts on their physical and mental well-being. First responders are often exposed to traumatic situations, which can result in physical injuries, mental health issues, and emotional distress. Poor incident management can exacerbate these issues, resulting in increased stress and burnout among the responders participating in the incident. If welfare of resources during an incident is left unaddressed, this can lead to more severe mental health issues, such as PTSD, which can have a long-lasting impact on the individuals ability to perform their job and on their personal lives.

As a result of poor incident management, the cost to the responders can in turn lead into decreased productivity and increased medical costs. This can result in higher absenteeism rates, decreased work quality, and a higher resource turnover rate, which can impact the emergency services ability to respond to future incidents effectively.

Moreover, the long-term effects of poor incident management on first responders can lead to decreased retention rates, making it challenging to recruit new first responders in the future. The result is a less effective and less efficient emergency services team, which can have a profound impact on the community's safety and well-being.

The second cost of poor incident management within the emergency service industry is the impact on members of the public in the community in and around the incident. Incidents can have a significant impact on the local community, resulting from property damage, loss of life, and emotional trauma. Poor incident management can result in delays in the successful mitigation of the incident hazard(s), which can increase the negative impact on the community effected by the incident.

Additionally, poor communication and lack of transparency can result in mistrust from the members of the public effected by the incident, which can lead to long-lasting reputational damage and decreased support for the emergency service industry.

The third cost of poor incident management to an emergency service is financial. The financial impact of poor incident management can be significant to an emergency service. When incidents occur, there are often significant costs associated with responding to the incident, such as equipment damage, lost productivity, as well as potentially increased medical costs for responders. Poor incident management can exacerbate these costs by resulting in delays in responding and resolving the incident.

Moreover, poor incident management can result in legal action from individuals or organizations impacted by the incident, which can result in significant financial penalties. Lawsuits can be costly and time-consuming, resulting in a drain on an emergency service resource. The financial impact of these penalties can be severe, resulting in budget cuts, decreased funding for necessary equipment and training, and even layoffs. This can have a significant impact on the emergency service's ability to respond to incidents effectively, which can potentially put the community further at risk.

The fourth cost of poor incident management within the emergency service industry is decreased preparedness for future incidents. Poor incident management can result in a lack of analysis and post incident learning from an incident, which can decrease preparedness for future incidents. Additionally, poor incident management can result in decreased trust in the emergency service industry, leading to decreased support for funding and resources necessary for effective incident management.

So, what can be done to mitigate the costs of poor incident management within the emergency service industry?

Firstly, effective incident management training for first responders is crucial. This training should include mental health support and stress management to ensure that first responders are equipped to handle traumatic incidents. Additionally, effective incident management training should include communication and transparency to ensure that the community is informed and trusts their emergency services.

Secondly, effective incident management processes and protocols are essential. These processes should be regularly reviewed and updated to ensure that they are effective and efficient. Additionally, effective incident management processes should include analysis and learning from incidents to increase preparedness for future incidents.

Finally, effective incident management requires support from the community and funding from government and private organizations. The emergency service industry is essential for our society, and it is crucial that it is adequately supported to ensure that incidents are handled effectively, minimizing the impact on first responders and the community.

In conclusion, poor incident management within the emergency services can result in costs that have long-lasting impacts. The costs include the impact on emergency responder personnel, the impact on the community effected by the incident, financial costs, and decreased preparedness for future incidents. Effective incident management training, processes, and support from the community and government are essential to mitigate these costs.