Risk Management in Search

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Risk Management in Search Rescue
Captain Scott LaRochelle, U.S. Coast Guard Chief
of Search Rescue
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What is risk management?
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Who Is Responsible For Performing Risk Management?

• EVERYONE!

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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

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Risk Management Process
Identify Mission/Tasks
Identify Hazards
Assess Risks
Identify Options
Evaluate Risk vs. Gain
Communications Situational Awareness
Execute Decision
Monitor Situation
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Risk Management Process
Identify Mission Tasks
Identify Hazards
Assess Risks
Identify Options
Evaluate Risk vs. Gain
Communications Situational Awareness
Execute Decision
Monitor Situation
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Green, Amber, Red (GAR)

• Six elements for consideration
• Supervision
• Planning
• Crew Selection
• Crew Fitness
• Environment
• Event Complexity
• Assign a score 0 - 10 foreach element

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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 quald
experienced?
CREW FITNESS Are they ready mentally
physically?
ENVIRONMENT How will on-scene conditions affect
performance?
EVENT Complexity
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CALCULATING RISK - GAR MODEL
0
23
44
60
RED (High Risk)
GREEN (Low Risk)
Amber (Medium Risk)
GREEN Minimum risk AMBER Moderate risk -
Attempt to minimize RED High risk - Implement
measures to reduce
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GAR Model in Action
4 2 5 2 2 1
4 6 5 2 3 4
7 9 9 2 10 9
Green 0-23 Amber 23-44 Red 44-60 (Low
risk) (Medium Risk) (High Risk)
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Routine Mission Does Not Equal Low Risk Mission
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Risk Management Process
Identify Mission Tasks
Identify Hazards
Assess Risks
Identify Options
Evaluate Risk vs. Gain
Communications Situational Awareness
Execute Decision
Monitor Situation
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Evaluating risk
Rule 1 Never accept HIGH risk for LOW gains!!
Rule 2 Never accept HIGH risk for LOW gains!!
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How Much Risk Is Appropriate?

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

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RISK ASSESSMENT
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Review
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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

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F/V SEA KING
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• Questions?