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MANUAL 03
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Australian
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Emergency Management
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Glossary
PART I
The Fundamentals
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Manual 3
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AUSTRALIAN EMERGENCY
MANAGEMENT GLOSSARY
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@ Commonwealth of Australia
ISBN0642476152
Parts I to III are issued as bound booklets to State and Territory emergency management organisations and appropriate
government departments for further dissemination to approved users including local government. Parts IV and V (skills
and training management topics) are issued in loose-leaf (amendable) form to all relevant State agencies through each
State and Territory Emergency Service who maintain State distribution/amendment registers. All private and commercial
enquiries are referred to EMA as noted at the end of the Foreword on page v.
Volume 3 Guidelines
Guide 1 Multi-Agency Incident Management A
Guide 2 Community and Personal Support Services A
Guide 3 Safe and Healthy Mass-Gatherings D
Guide 4 Medical Aspects of NBC Hazards D
Guide Disaster Victim Identification A/R
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Key to status: A = Available; A/R = original version Available/under Review;
D = under Development; P= Planned; R = under Review/Revision
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FOREWORD
The Australian Emergency Management Glossary has been developed in consultation
with all key emergency management organisations in Australia. These organisations were
provided with the opportunity to submit terms and definitions for inclusion, suggest
reference material, and comment on the final draft.
Information contained in this manual has been drawn from a number of references and
adapted to reflect the needs of the emergency management community.
This manual is available in print and is also accessible through Emergency Management
Australia's Internet site. As situations change, the manual will be updated and amended.
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may obtain copies through their state or territory emergency management headquarters
which maintains a distribution/amendment register.
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To support the international decade for natural disaster reduction, the Australian
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government will allow approved overseas organisations to reproduce the publication with
acknowledgment but without payment of copyright fees. Manuals may be supplied to other
Australian or overseas requesters upon payment of handling/shipping costs (covering
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Consideration will be given to requests from developing countries for multiple copies
without charge.
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CONTENTS
FOREWORD v
INTRODUCTION ix
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INTRODUCTION
AIM, USER GROUP, AND SCOPE
The aim of the Glossary is to provide a list of emergency management terms and
definitions. Terms included are those likely to be encountered by emergency
management workers.
The types of organisations that would find the Glossary of value include:
· local governments;
· State and Commonwealth government departments;
· professional groups;
· processing, storage and transport industries;
· other large private sector organisations;
· hospitals, educational institutions, etc; and
· community organisations.
BACKGROUND
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Confusion in emergency management often arises from a misunderstanding over words
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because emergency management is at the nexus of many fields. There is also an
increasing proliferation and duplication of terms and definitions, as the emergency
management field itself is still evolving and adapting itself to new and changing contexts.
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The Glossary provides information on the range of terms and definitions encountered in
emergency management, and may, in the future, lead to a consensus on terms and
definitions. This Glossary does not present new or different definitions of terms, but draws
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together definitions from many existing sources. It also suggests a set of core terms (see
Annex B).
The all hazards approach concerns arrangements for managing the large range of
possible effects of risks and emergencies. This concept is useful to the extent that a large
range of risks can cause similar problems, and such measures as warning, evacuation,
medical services and community recovery will be required during and following
emergencies. Many risks will, however, require specific response and recovery measures,
and will almost certainly require specific prevention and mitigation measures.
All agencies should be involved to some extent in emergency management. The context
of emergency management for specific agencies varies, and may include:
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and community contexts, including risk management, environmental management,
occupational health and safety, quality management, and asset management.
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The concept of the prepared community concerns the application of the comprehensive,
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all hazards and all agencies approaches at the local level (typically the local government
level).
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A general movement away from the terms 'counter-disaster' and 'disaster' towards the
term 'emergency' has occurred in Australia over the last few years. Thus, in the Glossary,
the term 'emergency' is generally used in compound terms, such as 'emergency
management', in preference to 'disaster'. The terms 'disaster' and 'disaster management'
are, however, still used in Australia to describe events of a truly disastrous nature.
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form.
· A core set of emergency management terms - A core set of terms is listed for some
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of the fundamental concepts of emergency management: See Annex B for this set of
terms.
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· Selection of emergency management terms - The terms were selected from
Emergency Management Australia (EMA) publications, Australian standards, best
practice guidelines and codes of practice, correspondence from Australian
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The Australian Emergency Management Glossary has been developed in parallel with the
Emergency Management Terms Thesaurus. The Glossary is intended to be a dictionary
and working tool for all in emergency management. It thus contains an alphabetical list of
terms and definitions. The Thesaurus is intended to be a tool for people accessing
information, librarians and file managers. It thus contains an alphabetical list of terms
showing the relationship between many of these terms, with some abbreviated definitions
included as 'scope notes'. The development of the two publications has been coordinated
to ensure a workable degree of compatibility.
EXPLANATORY NOTES
The Glossary contains terms, abbreviations and acronyms definitions. The following
conventions are used.
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'Previously known as...' is used to indicate the previous term, and the phrase 'Now
known as...' is used to indicate the current term.
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ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
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The Glossary was developed with the active participation of many organisations across
Australia, without whose assistance the Glossary could not have been produced. These
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organisations included:
Ø ambulance services,
Ø police departments,
Ø fire services,
Ø Emergency Services,
Ø health departments;
· Commonwealth –
Ø departments,
Ø research organisations;
· industry;
· research institutions.
A
ground or of a structure.(95)
acceleration coefficient An index
related to the expected severity of
earthquake ground motion.(74)
accelerograph Instrument for
AA See Airservices Australia.
recording acceleration.(95) See also
AAA See Australian Airports accelerometer and seismograph.
Association.
accelerometer A seismograph for
AAC Australian Agricultural Council. measuring ground acceleration as
(42)
AAEC Australian Atomic Energy a function of time. See also
Commission. accelerograph and seismometer.
AAFA Australian Assembly of Fire acceptable risk That level of risk that
Authorities. Now known as is sufficiently low that society is
Australasian Fire Authorities comfortable with it. Society does not
generally consider expenditure in
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Council (AFAC).
further reducing such risks
AAHL Australian Animal Health justifiable.(11) See also risk criteria,
Laboratory.
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AAOA Australian Airport Owners accident A sudden event in which
Association. Now known as harm is caused to people, property
Australian Airports Association (5)
or the built or natural environment.
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single exposure.
(102)(101) AEP See airport emergency plan
* Adverse effects occurring within a and annual exceedance
short time (usually up to 14 days) probability.
after administration of a single dose aerial bombing See air attack.
(or exposure to a given
concentration) of a test substance, aerial detection The discovering,
or after multiple doses (exposures), locating and reporting of fires from
(31)
usually within 24 hours. See also aircraft.(3)
toxicity. aerial firefighting See air attack.
ADF Australian Defence Force. aerial fuel The standing and
ADG Code See Australian Code for supporting combustibles not in direct
contact with the ground and
the Transport of Dangerous
consisting mainly of foliage, twigs,
Goods by Road and Rail.
branches, stems, bark and
(3)
advance burn A prescribed fire that creepers. See also coarse fuel,
reduced fuel through a forest area elevated dead fuel, fine fuel, fuel
before felling operations. It is type, slash and surface fuel.
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See airport emergency plan.
AIDAB Australian International
aeromedical evacuation Use of
rotary or fixed winged aircraft to
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facilitate the retrieval of the injured
Development Assistance Bureau.
Now known as Australian Agency
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or infirm. Aircraft are staffed by for International Development
suitably qualified practitioners of (AusAID).
aviation medicine.(19) AIEH Australian Institute of
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ambulance commander and liaises
all-agencies approach Arrangements
with the medical controller.(32) See
for dealing with emergencies and
disasters involving an active
partnership between
e also ‘ambulance site commander’.
ambulance coordination centre See
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Commonwealth, State and Territory, ambulance control centre.
and local levels of government,
ambulance holding point An area
statutory authorities, and voluntary
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Disaster Coordination Group.
annual flood series A series of
AMOSC See Australian Marine Oil
Spill Centre.
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peak discharges.
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amplitude The difference between
ANRARA Australian National Road
zero level and peak of any wave
Accident Rescue Association
such as a seismic wave.(95)
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Australian Association of Rural Fire
ATCFS Automated Tropical Cyclone (21)
Authorities (AARFA).
Forecasting System.
ATE Code See Australian Code for
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Information Systems Association
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the Transport of Explosives by
Inc. (AURISA) The principal
Road and Rail.
authoritative source of information in
ATM Asynchronous transfer mode. the Australian, New Zealand and
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Plastics and Chemicals Industry
Australian and New Zealand Association.
Convention of Ambulance
Authorities A forum where the
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heads of each country’s ambulance
Australian Chief Veterinary Officer
The nominated senior
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services meet and provide a cross- Commonwealth veterinarian in the
flow of information on human Department of Primary Industries
resource management, medical, and Energy who manages
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radioactive space debris over emergency management
Australia. e organisations throughout Australia
Australian Counter Disaster College and the promotion and
(ACDC) Now known as Australian advancement of professional
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Emergency Management Institute. standards in these and associated
services.
Australian Disaster Plan
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Natural Disaster Reduction Australian Medical Disaster
(IDNDR) Project and Advisory e Coordination Group (of Australian
Sub-Committee A committee to Health Minister’s Advisory
provide advice to the IDNDR Council) (AMDGG) The peak body
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Coordination Committee and to take responsible for the development of
executive decisions where national policy on disaster
appropriate. The tasks of the medicine.
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Inspection Service (AQIS) As part
specialists which has responsibility
of the Commonwealth Department
for locating, neutralising and
of Primary Industries and Energy,
AQIS provides quarantine services
e recovering radioactive space debris
under AUSCONPLAN SPRED.
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including imported foods, import
clearance, post-entry animal Australian Surveying and Land
quarantine, post-entry plant Information Group (AUSLIG) An
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The long-term average number of
perimeter of a fire or other years between the occurrence of a
phenomena requiring the plotting of
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a perimeter or path. The data can be
transmitted via radio to a control
flood as big as or larger than the
selected event, eg. floods with a
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discharge as great as or greater
room to provide an accurate real than the 20 year ARI flood event will
time picture of the extent of a occur on average once every 20
(21)
situation.
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B
bacillary dysentery An acute, severe,
regulate the flow or to divert water
supplies into a canal.(95) See also
dam.
base of dam The general foundation
area of the lowest portion of the
intestinal disease due to the Shigella main body of the dam.(10)
bacillus, type 1, characterised by BASI See Bureau of Air Safety
bloody stools and fever, associated Investigation.
with poor personal hygiene and
basic life support The provision of
sanitation in crowded closed
basic interventions to protect the
communities (ships, refugee camps,
airway, assist breathing and
jails). Especially frequent in children
maintain the circulation without the
and often occurring as sudden
use of drugs, defibrillation or
outbreaks. Transmitted via the
advanced techniques. Normally
faecal route or water-borne through
contaminated water supply, either refers to a combination of expired
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directly through hand contact or air resuscitation and external
indirectly through contaminated e cardiac compression to provide
food. The term ‘dysentery’ is often cardiopulmonary resuscitation.(32)
used in a general sense for many See also advanced life support,
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non-specific cases of gastro-enteritis emergency medicine, and first aid.
and diarrhoea.(72) bearing The direction from a point of
observation to an object.(27) See also
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back burn A fire started intentionally wind, ranging from 0 for calm to 12
from a prepared line or other barrier for hurricane, or velocities above
(51)
to burn an area of flammable 120 kilometres/hour. See Annex
material in the path of an advancing C for more information.
(21)
fire in order to control that fire. becquerel (Bq) The SI unit for
See also prescribed burning. measuring the activity of a
background radiation The radiation radioactive sample. One becquerel
in man’s natural environment, is the equivalent of one
including cosmic rays and radiation disintegration per second (replaces
from the naturally radioactive the ‘curie (Ci)’ - 1 Ci = 3.7x1010
elements.(6) Bq).(71)
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exhaled air of an exposed anticyclone of middle latitudes
person.(104) e which has the appearance on a
synoptic chart of an obstacle
biological hazard Includes infectious
(32) blocking the normal west-to-east
and cytotoxic waste.
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movement of migratory extra-tropical
(108)
biological hazardous waste Any depressions.
substance of human or animal origin
blood agent A chemical that interferes
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certain breach shapes and rates of
protection to surrounding lands.(3)
breach development.(11) See also e
dam failure. bulk water carrier A large tanker
used for replenishing water to
breach hydrograph The hydrograph (3)
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firefighting tankers.
that results at the toe of a dam as a
result of the breach of a dam.(11) bund An enclosure around plant or
tanks to contain leakage or
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Commonwealth government
breaking load See mean breaking
Department of Transport and
load.
Regional Development, the agency
breaking strain See mean breaking responsible for investigation of
load. accidents and incidents involving
civil-registered aircraft in Australia
breathing apparatus A personal
and its Territories.
respirator worn to provide protection
from the hazards of gases, vapours, Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) The
fumes and dusts. Breathing overall mission of the Bureau is to
apparatus may be of the cartridge or observe and understand Australian
canister type, self-contained air weather and climate and provide
supply, remote air supply or dust meteorological, hydrological and
(82)
mask type. See also self- oceanographic services in support of
contained breathing apparatus. Australia's national needs and
international obligations. This overall
breeder reactor A reactor that mission involves four separate basic
produces fissionable fuel as well as missions:
consuming fuel, especially one that
* monitoring - observation and data
creates more than it consumes. The
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burn A chemical or thermal burn, the
former caused by corrosive e call line identification (CLI)/call-in
substances and the latter by line identification (CLI) See caller
cryogenic liquids or hot line identification.
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substances.(89)
call-out The executive command to
burning off See prescribed burning. deploy resources.(32)
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ambulance casualty officer.
(32)
atoms.(6)
catchment area The area receiving Chemical Abstracts A collection of
the waters feeding a part or the
totality of a watercourse.
(108)
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chemical literature world-wide
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produced by the American Chemical
catchpit An enclosure usually filled
Society and the principle store of
with granite or other non-chemically
Chemical Abstract Service
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involving chemical products.(70) relevant emergency service. CREST
chief veterinary officer (CVO) The also provides communications
veterinarian of each State or
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times of need.(97)
Territory animal health authority who
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has responsibility for animal disease Civil Aviation Safety Authority An
(29)
control in that State or Territory. independent statutory authority
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cold zone This area contains the
Liability for Oil Pollution Damage
1992.
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support functions as are deemed
clarification Removal of suspended necessary to control the incident.(89)
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matter from water. See also Syn. ‘clean zone’ or ‘support zone’.
disinfection.(32) See also control zone.
class See dangerous goods class. coliform bacilli The various bacteria
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class label A label of a type specified which are normal inhabitants of the
in the ADG Code for the class of intestines but which become
dangerous goods.(107) pathogenic under certain conditions.
(72)
E. coli is the commonest.
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and practise various aspects of a
combustible dust Dust that is e plan and the emergency
combustible or ignitable in mixtures management system. It may include
with air. (Examples of such dusts actual tests of critical processes in
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are starch and coal dust. Layered the emergency management system
dusts under certain conditions may such as emergency operations
glow without ignition.)(79) See also centre procedures, communications
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(37)
an emergency or disaster.
culture, heritage, language,
Commonwealth Scientific and ethnicity, pastimes, occupation,
Industrial Research Organisation workplace, etc.(39)
(CSIRO) An independent statutory
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computer-aided dispatch (CAD) Use event or situation expressed
of computer-based technology to e qualitatively or quantitatively, being a
assist emergency service loss, injury, disadvantage or gain.
(88)
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contamination * Invasion of a person
or animal by pathogenic germs e control agency An agency nominated
(contaminants). * Presence of an to control the response activities to a
(98)
infectious agent on inanimate specified type of emergency. See
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articles such as clothes, surgical also response agency.
instruments, dressings, water, milk,
control area A declared area in which
or food. * Transfer and propagation defined conditions apply to the
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Convention on Assistance in the
resources, and operates, vertically,
Case of a Nuclear Accident or
within an organisation, as a function
Radiological Emergency (CENNA)
A convention that details
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horizontally, across organisations,
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responsibilities for notification, to the
as a function of the authority to
International Atomic Energy Agency
control.(58) See also control and
(IAEA) and national parties to the
command.
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denote top of dam. However, the
counsel To give advice or guidance to
e term ‘crest’ is usually applied to the
a person on conduct or behaviour level at which water may overflow
through discussion and consultation. the spillway section of the dam.
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It is only undertaken or conducted Term top of dam is preferred to
by professionally qualified mental denote uppermost surface of the
health practitioners, and normally dam proper, excluding parapets,
follows the debrief process.(66)
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surfaces to ready-to-eat, cooked curriculum is seen as necessary to
(36)
food. e achieve specified training and
crown fire A fire burning in the higher educational goals corresponding to
(105)
branches and foliage of a tree.(86) different levels of qualification.
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CRRT See Chemical Radiological cusec A unit of measurement in the
Response Team. Imperial System, equal to one cubic
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cyclones. See Annex C for more or object for its intended purpose;
information. · ‘moderate damage’ or the degree
cyclone surge See storm surge. of damage to principal members,
which precludes effective use of the
cyclone warning A message released structure, facility, or object for its
by a tropical cyclone warning intended purpose, unless major
centre (TCWC) when the existence repairs are made short of complete
of a cyclone or a developing reconstruction; and,
disturbance with potential to develop · ‘light damage’ such as broken
into a cyclone exists and is expected windows, slight damage to roofing
to cause at least gale force winds in and siding, interior partitions blown
(37)
coastal areas within 24 hours. down, and cracked walls; the
See also cyclone watch. damage is not severe enough to
cyclone watch A message released preclude use of the installation for
by a tropical cyclone warning the purpose for which was
centre (TCWC) when a cyclone or a intended.(95) See also assessment.
disturbance with potential to develop dambreak affected zone That zone of
into a cyclone exists and is likely to flooding where the changes in depth
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cause coastal gales within 48 hours and velocity of flooding due to
(37)
but not within 24 hours. See also e dambreak are such that there is
cyclone warning. potential for incremental loss of life.
The dambreak affected zone is
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limited to those areas where
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dambreak causes a rise in level of
floodwaters greater than 300
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millimetres.(11)
dambreak analysis An analysis which
provides an estimation of
DACC See Defence Assistance to downstream flooding effects
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instructions and maps that deal with followed by the first three letters of
possible emergency situations or the month. The first pair of digits
unusual occurrences at or related to denotes the date, the second pair of
a dam or reservoir.(10) digits denotes the hour, and the third
pair denotes the minutes.
dangerous contact animal An animal
showing no clinical signs of disease DCP See dangerous contact
but which, by reason of its possible premises.
exposure to disease, will be
death rate See mortality rate.
slaughtered as a pre-emptive
disease control measure.(29) See debrief A meeting at the end of an
also exotic animal disease. operation with the purpose of
assessing the conduct or results of
dangerous contact premises (DCP) an operation.(32) See also
Premises containing a dangerous debriefing and evaluation.
contact animal and on which some
or all susceptible animals will be debriefing The process of sharing the
slaughtered.(29) See also exotic good and bad points of the response
animal disease. to an incident as a means to
improving any future planning and
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dangerous goods Substances which responses.
(24)
are either specifically listed in the
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ADG Code or meet the classification debris flow A high-density mud flow
criteria of the ADG Code.(102) See with abundant coarse-grained
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also hazardous materials. materials such as rocks, tree trunks,
etc.(95) See also landslide.
dangerous goods class The class
allocated to a substance under the decision support system Interactive
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of water to a fire.(71)
Force Aid to Civil Defence and
Defence Force Aid to the Civil de-minimis risk That risk which is
Power
e sufficiently low that the community
regards it as insignificant and is not
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Defence Force Aid to Civil Defence concerned with it.(11)
(DFACD) Assistance to civil defence
agencies in protecting the civil depression Region of the atmosphere
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precipitation. (DACC).
DFACC Defence Force Aid to the Civil
design water level The maximum
water elevation including the flood Community. See Defence
surcharge, that a dam is designed to Assistance to Civil Community
withstand.(44) (DACC).
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direct attack A method of fire attack
resources, but no resources are
where wet or dry firefighting
actually deployed. Additionally,
responses may be prepared in
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syndicate, in plenary, or under the
techniques are used. It involves
suppression action right on the fire
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edge which then becomes the
guidance of a facilitator who
maintains the pace and asks fireline.(3)
questions. A cost-effective and directing staff Personnel appointed to
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disinfection Destruction of disease
division A portion of the fire
causing organisms.(36)(32)
perimeter comprising of two or
(3)
service and other resources to a local geographic name.
respond to requests for assistance.
May involve the use of manual or
computer-based systems.(19) See dose A generic term which may mean
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different kinds of unspecified
series of actions. See also exercise.
e diarrhoea or gastroenteritis.
drought index A numerical value, * Specific infection of the colon,
such as the Byram-Keetch Drought such as shigellosis (bacillary
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Index, reflecting the dryness of soils, dysentery), or amoebiasis (amoebic
(72)
deep forest litter, logs and living dysentery).
vegetation.(3) Syn. ‘soil dryness
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index’.
dry firefighting The suppression of a
fire without the use of water. This is
normally achieved by removing the E
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earthquake occurrence within a
Modified Mercalli scale of intensity
given time interval and region.(42)
to which simple answers indicate the
intensity of an earthquake. The
e earthquake swarm A series of minor
earth tremors (none of which may be
answers to these questionnaires
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gathered from an area around a felt identified as the main shock) that
earthquake can be integrated with occurs within a limited area and
field observations and other reports time.(95) See also aftershock,
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losses.(11) EIS See environmental impact
study.
economic risk analysis That sub-set
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of risk analysis which is concerned
with factors that can be expressed in
ejecta Material ejected from a
volcano, including large fragments
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dollar values.(11) (bombs), cindery material (scoria),
pebbles (lapilli) and fine particles
ecosystem The interacting system of (95)
(ash). See also tephra.
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on the Australian community. Also
Emergency Health Kit’.
e the lead Federal agency responsible
for disaster response. EMA's roles
emergency information panel (EIP) are to:
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The vehicle placard required by the • develop, coordinate and support
effective national emergency
Australian Code for the Transport
management arrangements;
of Dangerous Goods by Road and
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emergency medical conditions and emergency planning zone (EPZ) A
(32)
their management. See also e zone designated around nuclear
disaster medicine. powered warship berths and
emergency mitigation See anchorages for planning purposes to
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mitigation. assist in the identification of areas
where hazards might arise.(69)
emergency operations centre (EOC)
emergency position indicating radio
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should be taken, as well as how,
emergency shelter Group shelter
when, by whom and why, for specific
provided for affected persons in a
emergency events. A type of
‘standard operating procedure’.
e community hall or similar. It is part of
emergency relief, and is different
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emergency procedure guide (EPG) from temporary accommodation.(98)
An emergency procedure guide, in
emergency spillway See auxiliary
relation to dangerous goods or a
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spillway.
vehicle fire, is a guide outlining
procedures to be taken in the event emergency supply The provision of
of an emergency involving the goods resources in emergencies to
or in event of a fire on a road vehicle response agencies, by other than
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disaster medicine.
evacuation The planned relocation of
EPIRB See emergency positioning
indicating radio beacon.
e persons from dangerous or
potentially dangerous areas to safer
areas and eventual return.(98)
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EPIX See Emergency Preparedness
Information eXchange. evacuation centre Centre that
epizootic A disease temporarily provides affected people with basic
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(34)
in organs and tissues which takes services should also be provided.
into account the type of radiation See also assembly area and
involved.(57) See also collective emergency relief.
equivalent dose. evacuation point A predetermined
eradication The elimination of a place where patients, visitors and
disease and its causative agent from staff are taken or are assembled in
(84)
Australia.(64) the event of an evacuation. Syn.
‘evacuation assembly area’.
ERCC See emergency operations
centre. evaluation Post-disaster appraisal of
all aspects of the disaster and Its
error The deviation which can exist effects.(95) See also assessment.
between the actual performance
characteristic of a component, evaluation design flood (EDF) The
equipment or system, and the true flood event which, when routed
or required value of such through the reservoir with the
(18) existing spillway, just satisfies the
performance.
normal freeboard requirements
error rate The frequency with which a applicable to the recommended
event tree A diagrammatic means of exercise control The group with the
expressing the logic of sequences of responsibility for monitoring the
events. In risk analysis event trees progress of an exercise to ensure
can be used for such purposes as objectives are achieved in line with
(11)
identifying failure modes. See the exercise plan, controlling role
also fault tree. players, liaison with external or joint
agencies providing support or
event tree analysis A technique facilities for the exercise, and all
which describes the possible range safety measures. In short exercise
and sequence of the outcomes control is responsible for the total
which may arise from an initiating conduct of the exercise and the staff
event.(88) must be separate from the
exceedance probability The personnel being exercised.(67) See
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probability that an event of a given also directing staff.
magnitude, or any greater exercise director The exercise
magnitude, will occur. Exceedance
probability relates to a given time
e director is the person with the overall
responsibility to approve, initiate and
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(11)
period, commonly one year. See terminate the exercise. In large
also annual exceedance scale exercises, s/he may be
probability. supported by a deputy and/or
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(73)
(71) artificial circulation of the blood.
shrapnel.
e See also cardiopulmonary
explosion over-pressure The resuscitation.
pressure resulting from the blast
external emergency An event which
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wave of an explosion. It is referred
arises externally to the health care
to as ‘positive’ when it exceeds
facility and may necessitate a
atmospheric pressure and ‘negative’
response beyond the normal
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geometric centre of which is the of[ occurrence and the severity of its
centre of the tropical cyclone.(108) consequences.(88)
failure rate The frequency with which
a component, equipment or system
F
f/n curve Curve that relates ‘f’, the
fails.(18) Syn. ‘failure frequency’.
fallout The descent of airborne
particles of dust, soot, or, more
particularly, of radioactive materials
resulting from a nuclear
explosion.(51)
frequency per year of causing ‘n’ or
more fatalities, to ‘n’. Such curves famine A catastrophic food shortage
are used to express societal risk affecting large numbers of people
criteria and to describe the safety due to climatic, environmental and
levels of particular facilities.
(11)
socio-economic reasons.(95)
FAC Federal Airports Corporation. FAR Fatal accident rate.
factor of safety * The figure by which fault A fracture or zone of fractures in
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the minimum breaking force of new rock along which the two sides have
rope is divided to determine its safe been displaced relative to each
working load.(85)
e
* In structural and other engineering
other parallel to the fracture. The
total fault offset may range from one
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systems, the ratio of system millimetre for very small earthquakes
resistance to the peak design to ten metres for the Earth's largest
loads.(11) shocks.(42)
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fail-safe A failure mode where fault tree The logic diagram used in
hazardous or otherwise harmful fault tree analysis, that traces an
(18) undesirable event back to its
effects are minimal. (18)
cause/s. See also event tree.
Ar
loss of life and property and protect each team is appointed medical
our nation's critical infrastructure team leader.(32) Syn. ‘site medical
from all types of hazards through a team’.
comprehensive, risk-based,
field medical team leader A doctor
emergency management program of
nominated as the leader of each
mitigation, preparedness, response
field medical team sent to a disaster
and recovery”.(97)
site (there may be more than one).
Federal Sea Safety and Surveillance Responsible to and reports to the
Centre (FSSSC) The tasks of the field medical controller.(32) Syn.
now-defunct FSSSC are carried out ‘medical team leader’.
by AusSAR and COASTWATCH
film badge A pack of one or more
operations.(20)
photographic films and appropriate
FEMA See Federal Emergency filters (absorbers) used for the
Management Agency. approximate measurement of
radiation exposure or quantities
fetch The effective reservoir length
related to absorbed dose.(6)
over which winds can build up
waves.(9) fine fuel Grass, leaves, twigs and
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other small pieces of vegetation
field control centre See forward
under 6 millimetres in diameter.(86)
control centre.
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field exercise An exercise activity in
See also aerial fuel, coarse fuel,
elevated dead fuel, fuel type,
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which emergency management slash and surface fuel.
organisations and agencies take
action in a simulated situation, with finger Long narrow finger of rapidly
advancing fire which extends
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associated with the management of fire resistance level (FRL) The fire-
fire-prone land, including the use of
e resistance grading periods in
fire to meet land management goals minutes, determined for:
and objectives.(3) (1) structural adequacy;
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fire perimeter The entire outer (2) integrity; and
boundary of a fire area.(3) See also (3) insulation,
expressed in that order, ie. FRL XX,
fire edge and flame front. (78)
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YY, ZZ.
fire plug See fire hydrant.
fire resistance rating See fire-
fire prevention All pre-fire activities resistance level and fire rating.
designed to reduce fuel quantities,
Ar
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fire threat The impact a fire will have flame front The leading edge of a
on a community.(3)
e moving fire.(86) See also fire edge
and fire perimeter.
fire tolerance * The ability on the part
flame height The vertical distance
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of a biological environment
physically to withstand or recover between the tip of the flame and
from potentially adverse effects of ground level, excluding higher flame
(3)
flashes.
ch
FLIR See forward looking infra-red. flood damage The tangible and
intangible costs of flooding.
flood The overflowing by water of the
Tangible costs can be quantified in
normal confines of a stream or other
monetary terms, eg. damage to
body of water, or the accumulation
goods and possessions, loss of
of water by drainage over areas
income or services during the flood
which are not normally
aftermath, etc. Intangible damages
submerged.(108)
represent the increased levels of
flood awareness An appreciation of physical, emotional and
the likely effects of flooding and a psychological illness in flood
knowledge of the relevant flood affected people attributed to a
warning, response and evacuation flooding episode and are less easy
(61)
procedures. In communities with a to quantify in monetary terms.
high degree of flood awareness, the
flood forecast Prediction of the stage,
response to flood warnings is
prompt and efficient. In communities discharge, beginning and duration
with a low degree of flood of a flood, especially of the peak
awareness, flood warnings are liable discharge at a specific point on a
to be ignored or misunderstood, and stream resulting from precipitation
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(108)
residents are often confused about and/or snow melt.
what they should do, when to flood frequency curve A graphical
should be taken.
(61)
e
evacuate, what to take and where it representation of the relationship
between peak flood discharge and
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(11)
flood boat Vessel used for rescue, exceedance probability.
evacuation and resupply flood fringe areas The remaining
(109)
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(95) (61)
downstream. areas.
flood classification levels Definitions floodgate A device to control the flow
used in flood warnings to give a of water: may be located in or on a
general indication of the types of dam or weir or in a levee.(109)
problems expected in a flood, ie. flood gauge A device used to
minor flooding, moderate measure flood depth at a point in
flooding, and major flooding.(109) relation to a height datum.(109)
flood control The management of flood hazard The potential loss of life,
water resources through property and services which can be
construction of dams, reservoirs, directly attributed to a flood.(9)(11)
embankments, etc. to avoid See also continuing flood hazard,
floods.(95) existing flood hazard, future flood
flood control dam A dam which hazard and incremental flood
temporarily stores or controls flood hazard.
runoff and includes dams used to flood height The height of a flood on
form flood retarding basins.(10) Syn. a flood gauge. (109)
‘flood mitigation dam’.
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available to reduce flood damage also emergency plan.
and disruption, as canvassed in e flood prone land Land susceptible to
floodplain management studies.(61) inundation by the probable
maximum flood (PMF) event.
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floodplain management options The
measures which might be feasible Under the merit policy, the flood
for the management of a particular prone definition should not be seen
as necessarily precluding
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flood impacts by reducing natural
but not necessarily, areas of deeper
flood attenuation. Hence, it is
flow or areas where higher velocities
flood sizes before defining flood
e
necessary to investigate a range of
occur. As for flood storage areas,
the extent and behaviour of
storage areas.(61)
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floodways may change with flood
flood surcharge The maximum rise of severity. Areas that are benign for
stillwater level above reservoir full small floods may cater for much
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forward control centre A facility,
Quantified data that indicate the
where the controller is located, at or
quantity and quality of foodstuffs
e
available to a population eg. number
calories or proteins.(72)
near the scene of an emergency to
facilitate better control and
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management of a particular
food safety The component of food emergency. In emergencies where
hygiene which deals with the the impact is widespread there may
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measures necessary to ensure the be the need to locate more than one
innocuity, cleanliness, salubrity and forward control centre in which case
intrinsic value of foodstuffs.(72) the title of each forward control
centre should be preceded by the
forecast * Statement of expected
Ar
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* The vertical distance between a content of a fuel particle expressed
stated water level and the top of e as a percentage of the oven dry
dam.(9) weight of the fuel particle
freeboard, total The vertical distance (%ODW).(3) See also drought
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between full supply level and the index.
top of dam. That part of the total fuel moisture differential The
freeboard attributable to the depth of
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area.
set-up and wave run-up of specified
severity is sometimes referred to as fuel plan A plan showing areas of
(9) varying fuel quantities and types and
‘dry freeboard’. (3)
usually indicates past fire history.
frequency A measure of likelihood
expressed as the number of fuel profile The vertical cross section
occurrences of an event in a given of a fuel bed down to mineral
time.(88) See also likelihood and earth.(3)
probability. fuel quantity See fuel load.
frequency analysis See probability fuel reduction The process of
analysis. removing a fire hazard to reduce its
front (atmospheric) * The interface or chance of ignition, such as
transition zone between air masses controlled burning.(17) See also
of different physical properties controlled burn and prescribed
(temperature, humidity). burning.
* Line of intersection of the surface fuel separation The action of
separating two air masses usually separating fuel for the purpose of
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path width (0-7). For example, a
FPP scale of 1, 2, 7 indicates a e Fund Convention International
minimum wind speed of 117 Convention on the Establishment of
kilometres/hour, a length of 5.1 an International Fund for
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kilometres and a width of 16 Compensation for Oil Pollution
kilometres.(108) Damage 1992.(20)
full-scale emergency exercise future flood hazard The hazard a
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gauge height See flood gauge and techniques and facilities for making
flood height. e observations on a world-wide scale
within the framework of the World
Geneva Conventions The body of
Weather Watch.(108)(95)
international agreements consisting
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of four Conventions (1949) and two global positioning system (GPS) A
Additional Protocols (1977), highly-accurate navigation system
concerning humanitarian treatment based on a constellation of 24
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of victims of armed conflict, and put satellites orbiting the earth at 20,000
under the responsibility of the kilometres that transmit back a set
International Committee of the of signals.
Red Cross. The first Protocol
Ar
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prescribed fires where ignition
specific details for the substance
points are set individually at a
being transported, in blank spaces
predetermined spacing through an
area.
(3)
e provided, enabling a wide range of
substances or discrete groups
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grid map A map of an area overlaid having similar properties to be
with a grid system of rectangular accommodated by a relatively small
coordinates that are used to identify number of EPGs.(82)
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(27)
south grid lines on a map. See
wind speed over its mean value.(95)
also magnetic north and true
north. Gy See Gray.
grid reference (GR) A group of
numbers (either four, six or eight)
that describes a point on a map
using a given map grid system by
means of distance east and north of
an arbitrary zero point.(27)
groundfire A fire burning in thick
H
hachure A method of indicating rising
layers of humus and vegetation, ground on a map by a shading of
found in forest, swampy ground or lines down the line of the slope - the
peat. Fires in rubbish dumps could heavier or more numerous the lines
come into this category.(21) the steeper the slope.(27)
ground motion Seismic vibration of HAG See HAZMAT Action Guide.
the ground at a particular point,
recorded by accelerograph or half life (radioactive) In relation to
radioactive decay, the time required and damage to property that failure
for the quantity of a radionuclide to of that dam could cause. Such
decrease to one half of its initial classification is related to the
value.(57) amount of development downstream
of a dam.(44)
ham radio network The international
amateur radio network, frequently a hazard identification The process of
valuable contribution by the recognising that a hazard exists and
community to disaster response.(95) (87)
defining its characteristics.
handtrail A fire line constructed by hazard identification word diagram
hand using simple hand tools.(21) A table describing possible events at
given facilities, their cause, possible
harm A physical injury or damage to
consequences, and the prevention,
health, property or the
detection, and protection systems
environment.(87)
required.(62)
harmful substance See hazardous
hazard management See mitigation.
substance.
hazard mapping The process of
hazan See hazard analysis.
establishing geographically where
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hazard * A source of potential harm or and to what extent particular
a situation with a potential to cause
e phenomena are likely to pose a
(88)
loss. threat to people, property,
* A potential or existing condition infrastructure, and economic
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that may cause harm to people or activities. Hazard mapping
damage to property or the represents the result of hazard
environment.(36)(32)(60) assessment on a map, showing the
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hazardous substance A substance head * The pressure due to elevation
which: (a) is listed on the National
e of water, amounting to 9.7
(17)
Occupational Health and Safety kilopascals/metre. Syn.
Commission's List of Designated ‘backpressure’ and ‘static head’.
iv
Hazardous Substances (b) has been * The most rapidly advancing edge
classified as a hazardous substance of a bushfire.(17)
by the manufacturer or importer in
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level.
(9)
e
spillway crest, or to the full supply
d surrounding a dangerous goods
incident which extends far enough to
prevent adverse effects from
dangerous goods releases to
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personnel outside the zone.(89) Syn.
hierarchy of control Control
‘exclusion zone’, ‘combat zone’ or
measures that should be used to
‘restricted zone’. See also control
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(95)
a specified period. See also flood
forecasting. ICA See Insurance Council of
Australia.
hydrological warning Emergency
information on an expected ICAO See International Civil
hydrological phenomenon which is Aviation Organisation.
considered to be dangerous.(95) See ICAO recommended practice Any
also flood warning. specification for physical
hydrology The study of the rainfall- characteristics, configuration,
runoff process as it relates to the material, performance, personnel or
development of flooding and the procedure, the uniform application of
derivation of hydrographs at which is recognised as desirable in
different locations in a river system the interest of safety, regularity of
for given floods.(33) efficiency of international air
navigation, and to which Contracting
hyperbaric chamber See States will endeavour to conform in
decompression chamber. accordance with the Convention.
hyperglycaemia High blood sugar.(73) ICAO rules The Technical Instructions
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health effects within a short time
ICC See incident control centre.
e period.
ICDO See International Civil
imminent failure flood (IFF) The
Defence Organization.
flood event which, when routed
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ice storm Intense formation of ice on through the reservoir, with the
objects by the freezing, on impact, existing spillway, just threatens
of rain or drizzle.(95) Syn. ‘glaze failure of the dam.(9)
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storm’.
immunisation Rendering a person or
ICOLD International Committee on animal immune to certain infections
Large Dams. by the process of injecting either
Ar
IFF See imminent failure flood. incidence The number of new cases
of a disease or injury or of sick
IFHC See incremental flood hazard persons or casualties, in a given
category. population in a specified period of
time. It should not be confused with
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within a common organisational
controller.(3)
structure with responsibility for the
* Describes the actions to be taken
e
to control or suppress an incident.
management of allocated
resources to effectively accomplish
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There are three incident action plan
stated objectives relating to an
formats: (2)
incident. See also Australian
- incident action plan - type 1 The
Inter-Service Incident
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d
usually in conjunction with the backburning as a method of
incident management team, to e suppression to confine the fire within
deal with an incident. The plan may a defined area bounded by existing
be issued orally or in writing.(40) See or prepared control lines. Control
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also incident action plan. lines may be a considerable
distance ahead of the fire.(3)
incident sequence analysis The
tracing of a primary event forwards individual risk The frequency at
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debriefer’, conducted in an informal Insurance Council of Australia (ICA)
environment, to: a. provide an
e An independent, non-profit
information briefing on the event, organisation that represents the
including a status report on the interests of the general insurance
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condition of victims, etc; b. offer industry.(97)
support; c. provide an opportunity to integrated approach See all-
express feelings and demystify agencies approach.
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enable the opportunity to assess the critically ill, usually given under
need for formal debriefing. hospital supervision and for a short
(51)
period of time.
information centre A facility
established near an emergency intensive care unit (ICU) That section
operations centre (to protect the of a hospital in which intensive care
emergency operations centre from is given.(51)
interruptions and general inquiries) internal emergency A sudden event
to provide visitors with, and answer which arises internally and which
inquiries for, information concerning may be caused by an internal or
the emergency or operation in external source, and may adversely
progress. It includes the supply of affect the safety of persons in a
information of a general nature to health care facility, requiring an
assist the victims.(65) immediate response by the
information report See situation occupants.(84)
report. International Atomic Energy Agency
initial attack The first suppression (IAEA) United Nations specialised
work on a fire.(3) agency for the peaceful uses of
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and general aviation. (8)
International Civil Defence
e International Federation of Red
Organization (ICDO) Inter- Cross and Red Crescent Societies
governmental organisation with (IFRC) An international humanitarian
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major role in society’s response to organisation that is part of the
serious emergencies. It develops, International Red Cross and Red
strengthens and coordinates civil Crescent Movement. Its mission is
ch
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people by a controlling body without
entitled to one vote regardless of their consent.(11) See also voluntary
size or economic development.
Technical work is carried on in
committees.
(71)
e risk.
ion An atom in a charged state
iv
following ionisation.(57)
International Rescue Committee
(IRC) A non-profit, nonsectarian ionisation The process by which one
ch
L
properties, but somewhat different
physical properties.(6)
ch
J
consequently, rainfalls heavier in
(14)
Southeast Asia. See also El Niño
and southern oscillation.
lahar A mudslide induced by volcanic
eruption either at the time of the
JMA See Modified Mercalli Scale. eruption (by the mixing of hot gases,
job card A written list of tasks to be melted ice or water, and ash) or
carried out by an individual as part years later (by the failure of volcanic
of an emergency response.(29) ash deposits in the presence of
(14)
heavy rain). See also ejecta,
joint probability The probability that landslide and pyroclastic flow.
two or more variables will assume
certain values simultaneously or landslide The general term given to
d
in height (as above) are included, LDCC See Local Disease Control
provided they comply with at least
e Centre.
one of the following conditions: lead agency An organisation which,
- the length of crest, ie. the top of because of its expertise and
iv
the dam, to be not less than 500 resources, is primarily responsible
metres; for dealing with a particular
- the capacity of the reservoir formed hazard.(40)
ch
2,000 cubic metres per second; between the time and date of
- the dam has specifically difficult determining that an item is required
foundation problems; until it is actually received by the
- the dam is of unusual design.(10)(9) user or the time for events to occur
See also referable dam. before an action can be taken.(12)
lava Molten rock. Different terms are lesion Any discontinuity of tissue or
used to describe the nature of the loss of function of a part of the body
lava, mainly as determined by as a result of disease or trauma.(101)
viscosity.(14) See also magma. See also injury.
lava flow Molten rock which flows lethality The lethality of a flood is the
down-slope from a volcanic vent, potential that flood has to cause
typically moving at between a few deaths and injuries for those within
metres to several tens of kilometres its boundaries. This potential varies
per hour.(95) as a function of water depth,
LC50 A concentration of a substance velocity, temperature and amount of
(usually in air) that is estimated to debris carried.(11)
produce death in 50% of a
M
particular sequence of
earthquakes.(95) See also
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aftershock, earthquake swarm
e and foreshock.
mainstream flooding Inundation of
macroseismic effects Those effects normally dry land occurring when
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that can be observed on a large water overflows the natural or
scale in the field without artificial banks of a stream, river,
instrumental aid.(42) See also estuary, lake or dam.(61)
ch
d
manifest See inventory.
permanent or in-transit storage,
ancillary equipment or processes, Manual of Diagnostic Procedures A
marshalling yards, docks, piers,
e manual which is a part of
AUSVETPLAN that defines
jetties, depots, pipelines or similar
iv
structures whether floating or not. diagnostic procedures to confirm the
(106)
See also hazardous industry presence of exotic animal
and hazardous facility. disease.(91)
ch
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also zonation.
medical transportation area That
portion of the triage area where mil A unit of direction from a given
injured persons are staged for
e
transportation to medical facilities
point used in the defence forces -
there are 6400 mils in a circle. See
iv
under the direct supervision of a degree.
(47)
medical transportation officer. mineral earth A term used to describe
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d
conditions that characterise a sheet.
disease, as opposed to mortality e MSK Medevedev-Sponheuer-Karnik
that characterises the killing Scale. See Modified Mercalli
potentialities of a disease. (72)
Scale.
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morbidity rate * For a given disease, mudflow The down-slope transfer of
the ratio of individuals having that fine earth material mixed with
disease to the total number of the
water.(95) See also landslide. Syn.
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multi-modal redundant
ratio can be expressed as incidence communications Communications
or prevalence.(72) which use multiple modes (eg. radio,
mortality * The number, magnitude or telephone, microwave, satellite) and
frequency of deaths over a period of have in-built redundancy (if one link
time among the total sick and well fails there are alternative routes), eg.
population of an area. * The telephone lines through separate
numerical expression of deaths, exchanges.(32)
usually given as a mortality rate. multisectorial Action or discipline that
See also morbidity and mortality implies and needs coordination at all
rate.(72) levels between and among the
mortality rate The ratio of the number various activities involved in
of deaths in a given population to managing a situation, eg. a disaster,
the total number of that such as the health sector, transport
population.(72) Syn. ‘death rate’. agriculture, housing, public works,
water supply, communications,
MOSC The Marine Oil Spills finance etc.(72)
Committee of the Australian Institute
mutagen An agent capable of
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National Community Awareness
Advisory Group (NCAAG) The
N
e purpose of the NCAAG is to identify
means of fostering and enhancing
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community awareness of relevant
aspects of emergency management.
The tasks of NCAAG are to:
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advice to the National Emergency
Management Committee (NEMC) e National Health and Medical
on relevant emergency management Research Council (NHRMC) A
matters and to take executive action statutory authority within the portfolio
iv
where appropriate. The tasks of of the Australian Commonwealth
NEMEG are to: Minister for Health and Family
• develop and review submissions to Services. The strategic intent of the
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Commonwealth Government assists
Management Australia.
the State and Territory governments
e
to provide approved financial NDRA See Natural Disaster Relief
assistance to eligible persons and Arrangements.
iv
organisations following natural
near miss Any sudden event which,
disasters.(98)
but for mitigation effects, actions or
natural disaster Any emergency systems, could have escalated to a
ch
(98)
storms including hail. negative triage In a disaster situation,
the least seriously injured are
Natural Disasters Organisation
evacuated before the most seriously
(NDO) See Emergency injured.(73) Syn. ‘reverse triage’. See
Management Australia. also triage.
natural gas Gaseous hydrocarbons
negligence Failure to do a job or duty;
(mainly methane) from underground an act or state of neglectfulness.(71)
deposits, the production of which
may be associated with the negligible risks Risks that are so
production of crude petroleum. The small that there is no cause for
gas is described as ‘wet’ or ‘dry’ concern about them, and no reason
according to the proportion of readily to take action to reduce them.(92)
condensable hydrocarbons which it NEMC See National Emergency
contains. This term also applies to Management Committee.
the purified product.(81) See also
liquefied natural gas, liquified NEMCAG See National Emergency
petroleum gas and town’s gas. Management Curriculum Advisory
Group.
d
also easting.(27)
newton The derived SI unit of force;
e nowcast A description of current
the force required to give an weather and a short-period (0-2
acceleration of one metre per hours) forecast.(95)
iv
second to a mass of one
(51)
kilogram. See kilogram-force. NPAC National Plan Advisory
Committee (for oil pollution).
NFPA US National Fire Protection
ch
NHMRC See National Health and NSCA See National Safety Council
Medical Research Council. of Australia.
no duff A code indicating that an nuclear accident Accidental release
emergency is real and not an of radiation occurring in civil nuclear
exercise. facilities, exceeding the
internationally-established safety
NOAA US National Oceanic and levels.(95)
Atmospheric Administration.
nuclear hazard All hazards existing
non-governmental organisation from the use of, and exposure to,
(NGO) Non-profit making radioactive substances.
(36)(32)
organisation operating at the local,
national, or international levels. nuclear radiation See ionising
Distinct from a governmental radiation.
organisation, having no statutory ties nuclear-powered warship (NPW) A
with a national government.(95) vessel, either surface or submarine,
non-persistent pesticide A pesticide which has a primarily nuclear-
that breaks down almost powered propulsion system.
O
one-stop shop A relief service centre
established to provide a range of
short- and intermediate-term
d
services.(34)
d
been secured by some means to
effectively control the entry or exit of
P
persons and equipment from that
area. The area boundary is
e
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established at a sufficient distance
around the outside of the inner
cordon to provide a safety zone
ch
(61)
equipment to work effectively. The ‘peak flow’.
line may be shortened by cutting
peak overpressure The maximum
across unburnt fingers. The
value of explosion overpressure at
intervening strip of unburnt fuel is
a given location which is generally
normally burnt out as the control line
experienced at the instant the shock
proceeds, but may be allowed to
(or blast) wave reaches that
burn out unassisted where this (12)
location.
occurs without undue delay or threat
to the line.(3) Syn. ‘parallel fire perceived risk The level of risk that is
suppression’ and ‘parallel method’. thought to exist by an individual or
group of individuals.
paramedic An ambulance officer with
advanced life support skills. See perimeter See inner perimeter and
also ambulance officer. outer perimeter.
partial exercise An exercise of one personal hardship and distress
or more participants of the airport (PHD) payment A grant for the
emergency plan as required to provision of emergency food,
improve efficiency.(47) clothing and accommodation made
under State or Territory government
d
passenger reception centre The
arrangement to those affected by
centre on airport for victims involved
emergencies.
in the emergency not taken to
e
hospital, where triage and disaster personal locator beacon (PLB) A
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victim registration is undertaken portable, self-contained radio
and welfare support is provided prior transmitter operating on the distress
to reuniting with relatives.(43) frequencies of 121.5 megahertz or
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emergency plan.
plume exposure pathway Route by
Ar
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atmospheric front of great extent, in
middle latitudes, which separatese potable water Water which is safe for
polar air and tropical air.(95) human consumption.(36) Syn.
polder A mostly low-lying area ‘drinking water’.
iv
artificially protected from potentially hazardous facility A
surrounding water and within which facility or installation which, in the
the water table can be controlled.(95) absence of mitigating land use,
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d
number of possible outcomes. emergency procedures and
Probability is expressed as a e standard operating procedures.
number between 0 and 1, with 0
profile moisture content See fuel
indicating an impossible outcome
moisture content.
iv
and 1 indicating an outcome is
certain.(88) See also frequency, protective clothing Equipment
likelihood and conditional designed to protect the wearer from
ch
Q
critical incident stress and post-
traumatic stress disorder.
PTSD See post-traumatic stress
disorder.
PTWC Pacific Tsunami Warning QRA See quantified risk
Centre. assessment.
public awareness The process of quantified risk assessment (QRA) A
informing the community as to the risk assessment that is based
nature of the hazard and actions essentially on quantified inputs.(11)
needed to save lives and property See also risk assessment.
prior to and in the event of
disaster.(95) quarantine Legal restrictions imposed
on a place or tract of land by the
public health The discipline in health
d
serving of a notice and limiting
sciences that, at the level of the access or egress of specified
community or the public, aims at animals, persons or things.(29)
promoting prevention of disease,
e
sanitary living, laws, practices and quick fill pump A high volume water
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healthier environment.(72) See also pump used for filling tankers.(3)
environmental health. quicksand Saturated sandy deposits
ch
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kilobecquerels/kilogram (dangerous
goods class 7).(89) e readiness See preparedness.
radioactive wastes Conventional rear The section of the perimeter
materials that have been opposite to and generally upwind (or
iv
contaminated with radiation. downslope), from the head of the
fire.(3)
radioactivity The property of certain
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of undergoing spontaneous
established for the immediate
fission.(6)
receipt of evacuees and as such will
radioisotope An isotope which is be the initial source for the delivery
radioactive. Most natural isotopes of welfare services to those
lighter than lead-208 are not evacuees.(58)
radioactive.(6)
recommended design flood (RDF)
radionuclide A species of atomic The flood event which has the
nucleus which undergoes recommended annual exceedance
radioactive decay.(57) probability or proportion of
rain gauge Instrument for measuring probable maximum precipitation
the depth of water from inflow and which produces the
(10)
precipitation supposedly distributed highest flood for the dam.
over a horizontal impervious surface reconnaissance Inspection of a fire
and not subject to evaporation.(108) area for the purpose of obtaining
Syn. precipitation gauge. See also information about current and
pluviometer and pluviograph. probable fire behaviour and fire
RAR See road accident rescue. suppression information.(3)
d
communities in the reconstruction of manner; and,
the physical infrastructure and e · supported by training programs
restoration of emotional, economic and exercises.
and physical well-being.(41) recurrence interval The average time
iv
* In oil spills, the entire process of interval at which events equal to or
the physical removal of spilled oil greater than a certain magnitude
from land, water or shoreline would recur if existing natural
ch
d
founded fear of persecution for
by the disaster.(95)
reasons of race, religion, nationality,
* Process of adjustment to
membership of a particular social
group or political opinion mostly
e circumstances prevailing in the
aftermath of an exotic animal
iv
outside the country of nationality
and unable to return or avail himself disease outbreak.(29) See also
of the protection of that country. reconstruction.
ch
Includes mass exodus of people for relative humidity (RH) The amount of
reasons of conflict and natural water vapour in a given volume of
disasters moving outside their air, expressed as a percentage of
country of origin.(95) the maximum amount of water
Ar
regeneration burn The controlled vapour the air can hold at that
burning of bushland to encourage temperature.(3)
new growth.(51) relatives reception centre The centre
register A listing of all hazardous on an airport for those persons
waiting to meet victims, where
substances which are used or
identification is undertaken and care
produced in the workplace and the
provided prior to reuniting with their
available material safety data (43)
relatives.
sheets.(103) See also inventory and
manifest. relief The provision of immediate
shelter, life support and human
registered training provider An
needs of persons affected by, or
organisation or individual registered
responding to, an emergency. It
by the appropriate State and
includes the establishment,
Territory vocational education and
management and provision of
training recognition authorities to
services to emergency relief
deliver education and training
centres.(98) See also recovery.
according to an accredited training
program or course. ‘Registration’ REM See Sievert.
d
to which personnel/vehicles resources All personnel and
responding to an emergency e equipment available, or potentially
situation initially proceed to receive available, for incident tasks.(2) See
directions to staging areas and/or also allocated resources, available
the accident/incident site.(47)
iv
resources, en route resources and
request for disaster assistance unserviceable resources.
Official approach made by the respiration Breathing; inhalation.(71)
ch
authorities of a disaster-stricken
country to other governments, response * Actions taken in
international organisations or anticipation of, during, and
voluntary agencies requesting aid in immediately after an emergency to
Ar
d
processes involving the exchange of
Scale.
e information and opinion about risk
risk * A concept used to describe the among individuals, groups, and
likelihood of harmful consequences institutions.(56)
iv
arising from the interaction of risk control That part of risk
hazards, communities and the management which involves the
environment.(41)
provision of policies, standards and
ch
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barricade to maintain compliance
risk identification The process of e with movement control
determining what can happen, why restrictions.(29)
(88)
and how.
iv
rockfall Free-falling or precipitous
risk management The systematic movement of a newly detached
application of management policies, segment of bedrock of any size from
procedures and practices to the a cliff or other very steep slope.(95)
ch
d
up a dam face. Measured from the are to be met; and
(9)
stillwater level. e · the means by which adherence to
rupture zone Area of fault breakage these standards is to be
corresponding to a particular maintained.(106)
iv
earthquake sequence.(95) safety phrase A phrase describing the
safe handling, storage or use of
personal protective equipment for
ch
S
a substance.(103)
safety report A written presentation of
the technical, management and
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pathogenic micro-organisms on search and rescue operation In
surfaces or in substances to levels
e whole or in part the action taken
accepted as safe by regulatory during the currency of a search and
authorities.(36) rescue incident.(8)
iv
SAR incident See search and search and rescue region (SRR) An
rescue incident. area of defined dimensions within
which search and rescue services
ch
d
from a few minutes to several hours) recording on a plate without time
of the surface of a lake or othere marks.(13)
small body of water caused by minor self-contained breathing apparatus
earthquakes, winds, or variations in (SCBA) Breathing apparatus,
iv
the atmospheric pressure.(108) including positive pressure full face
seismic Related to sudden and piece, air tank, connecting hose and
usually large movement of the other fittings.(89) See also breathing
ch
(14)
Earth’s crust. apparatus.
seismic activity rate The mean sensitivity analysis Examines how
number per unit time of earthquakes the results of a calculation or model
Ar
d
action plan is recommended.(21)
tornadoes.(108)
situation report (SITREP) A brief
SEWS See Standard Emergency
Warning Signal.
e report that is published and updated
periodically during an emergency
iv
shigellosis See bacillary dysentery. which outlines the details of the
emergency, the needs generated,
short term exposure limit (STEL)
and the responses undertaken as
ch
coarse fuel, elevated dead fuel, SOI See southern oscillation index.
fine fuel, fuel type and surface
soil amplification Growth in the
fuel.
amplitude of earthquakes when
slash burn A prescribed burn seismic waves pass from rock into
conducted to consume slash for fire less rigid material such as soil.(13)
hazard reduction or silvicultural soil conditions The conditions of
purposes.(3) earth (moisture content,
sleeper A fire that starts up again after disaggregation, density, etc.) that
appearing to have been may mitigate or intensify disaster
(3)
extinguished. agents, such as drought, flooding, or
seismic movement.(95)
slow onset disaster See creeping
disaster. soil dryness index (SDI) See
drought index.
SMAUG A method for prioritising
hazards by assessing the relative soil moisture Content of water in the
importance of each hazard in terms portion of the soil which is above the
of seriousness, manageability, water table including water vapour
acceptability, urgency and growth. present in the soil pores. In some
smoke Carbon or soot particles or
tarry droplets less than 0.1
micrometre in size, and suspended
e d cases refers strictly to moisture
within the root zone of plants.(95) See
also drought index.
iv
in air, which result from the SOLAS (International Convention
incomplete combustion of for Safety of Life at Sea) A
carbonaceous materials such as convention that, amongst other
ch
and forwards between the Pacific occurs when the reservoir rises
and Indian Oceans. Associated with above the crest. If a gate or gates
this swaying of mass between the are used to control the uppermost
hemispheres are remarkable level of the reservoir the spillway is
changes in wind, temperatures and referred to as a ‘gated’ or ‘controlled’
rainfall regime.(108) See also El Niño spillway.(9)
and La Niña. spillway crest The uppermost portion
southern oscillation index (SOI) A of the overflow cross section.(9)
measure of the strength and phase spontaneously combustible Liable to
of the southern oscillation, which burst into flame and burn, under the
indicates the status of the Walker conditions encountered, without the
circulation. The SOI is calculated external application of heat.(75)
from the monthly or seasonal
fluctuations in the air pressure spot elevation An approximate height
difference between Tahiti and measurement of a feature marked
Darwin. The ’typical’ Walker on a map. See also bench mark.
circulation pattern has an SOI close spot fire Isolated fire started ahead of
(15)
to zero. the main fire by sparks, embers or
d
span of control A concept which other ignited material, sometimes to
(3)
relates to the number of groups or
e a distance of several kilometres.
individuals controlled by one person See also spotting.
- a factor of 1:5 is recommended.(2)
iv
spotting The ignition of spot fires
SPEAR Selected Pollution Equipment from sparks and embers.(3)
Availability Register. Now known as squall Atmospheric phenomenon
ch
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· alert exists when the CVO notifies Standard for the Uniform
key members of the animal health e Scheduling of Drugs and Poisons
authority and the coordinator of the (SUSDP) A listing of substances
State Emergency Plan that an requiring specific labelling and
iv
animal disease emergency may be precautions in use. The standard for
imminent, or exists in another State; the uniform scheduling of drugs and
· operational exists when the CVO poisons is published by the national
ch
notifies the coordinator of the State health and medical research council
Emergency Plan that an animal and is the basis for state and
disease emergency exists in the territory poisons legislation.(102) Syn.
State; ‘poisons schedule’.
Ar
state central registry The central storm surge The difference between
registry established at State level for the actual water level under
receiving and processing disaster influence of a meteorological
registration cards and dealing with disturbance (storm tide) and the
level which would have been
inquiries relating to the tracing of
attained in the absence of the
people.(12) See also National
meteorological disturbance (ie.
Registration and Inquiry System. (108)
astronomical tide). Syn. ‘storm
State Disease Control Headquarters wave’ and ‘storm tide’. See also sea
(SDCHQ) The office from which all surge.
State emergency exotic disease
storm tide The combination of a
control actions of that State are
storm surge, tidal peaks, a shallow
coordinated and in which all
coastal gradient, and on-shore
d
significant decisions are taken or
winds. A storm tide effect may be
confirmed.(29)
increased by funnelling due to
state medical controller A senior
medical officer, usually a
e coastal terrain.(37)
iv
representative of, or nominated by, storm warning * Meteorological
state health departments, message intended to warn those
responsible for liaison and providing concerned of the occurrence or
ch
d
underlying or removal of soluble
identity. Also grasses, shrubs and
material by means of water.(95)
tree reproduction less than one
d
does not destroy the resources exercise. They may feature a model
needed for future development.(93) of the area on which a prepared
e
See also ecologically sustainable
development and human
scenario is played out, or simply
using a projected map, not in real
iv
development. time. The model or map is used to
illustrate the deployment of
SWEAT index See severe weather resources, but, no resources are
ch
d
'man-made disaster'.
tail fire See backing fire.
tanker A mobile firefighting vehicle
e technological hazard A hazard of a
technological origin, as opposed to a
iv
hazard of a natural origin.
equipped with a water tank, pump,
and the necessary equipment for telemetry The use of data
spraying water and/or foam on communications devices from the
ch
d
line along the coast. The remainder National Standard for the Control of
of the baseline consists of straight
e Major Hazard Facilities, of a material
lines as follows: lines across the which, if exceeded, identifies a
mouths of rivers which flow directly major hazard facility.(106)
iv
into the sea; bay-closing lines to
enclose certain bays not more than thunderstorm Sudden electrical
24 miles wide at their mouths; and discharges manifested by a flash of
light (lightning) and a sharp or
ch
d
to reduce it. This may be because
toxicity The degree of being
its tolerable, but it may also be
poisonous; the capability of a
e
because its true levels are unknown.
It is possible that a risk which is at
poisonous compound to produce
deleterious effects in organisms
iv
present tolerated would, given better
such as alteration to behavioural
information, be judged intolerable.(92)
patterns or biological productivity or
See also risk criteria and tolerable (71)
death. See also acute toxicity.
ch
risk.
toxicology The science of poisons,
tongues Long narrow fingers of harmful chemical substances,
rapidly advancing fire which extend organic toxins, and of their
beyond the head or flanks of the
Ar
d
and extinguish fires caused by the · severe tropical storm: maximum
ember attack after the passage of
e wind speed of 48 to 63 knots;
the fire front.(21) · hurricane: maximum wind speed of
64 knots or more;
iv
trauma Injury of any nature.(95) · typhoon: maximum wind speed of
treatment area See patient 64 knots or more;
treatment post. · tropical cyclone (South-West
ch
d
infectious disease, transmitted by UNDP See United Nations
patients, carriers, water or food,
e Development Programme.
such as contaminated shellfish. It is
characterised by fever, slow pulse, UNDRO United Nations Disaster
iv
skin eruption, abdominal signs, Relief Organization. Now known as
enlarged spleen and prostration. United Nations Office for the
Many enteric diseases are labelled Coordination of Humanitarian
ch
d
committees; peace keeping forces; and man-made disasters (chemical
(72) (72)
institutes; etc. e explosion, oil spill, pollution).
United Nations Children’s Fund United Nations High Commissioner
(UNICEF) Special fund created to for Refugees (UNHCR) Office of
iv
help underprivileged children United Nations High Commissioner
worldwide. From the beginning specifically established to protect
UNICEF has been engaged in and assist refugees, with the goal of
ch
emergency aid, and now its activities finding permanent solutions to the
extend to all the fields of child refugee problem. It designs and
welfare, especially child administers programmes of
development, health and protection assistance to countries of asylum in
Ar
and may cover a group of chemicals USAR See urban search and
with similar hazardous properties, rescue.
for example, Organophosphorus
UVCE Unconfined vapour cloud
pesticides, liquid, toxic - United
(102) explosion. See also boiling liquid
Nations No. 3018.
expanding vapour explosion.
United Nations Office for the
Coordination of Humanitarian
V
Affairs (UNOCHA) The United
Nations organisation responsible for
coordination of humanitarian
emergency response, policy
development, and advocacy on
humanitarian issues. Previously vaccination See immunisation.
known as ‘United Nations Disaster
Relief Organisation (UNDRO)’ and vapour The gaseous form of a
‘United Nations Department of substance which is normally in the
(97)
Humanitarian Aid (UNDHA)’. solid or liquid state at room
temperature and pressure.(104) See
United Nations Pesticide List The
d
also dust, fume, gas, mist, smoke
latest revision of Table 6.1 'Grouping
and fume.
of Pesticides according to the
e
Percentage of Active Substances' as
adopted by the United Nations
VCANZ See Veterinary Committee
of Australia and New Zealand.
iv
Committee of Experts on the vector Insects capable of transmitting
Transport of Dangerous Goods.(45) disease. Includes flies, fleas, lice.
mites, mosquitoes and ticks.(32) See
ch
d
analysis.
the aid. This dependency may not
be easily terminated when the vulnerability assessment See
e
necessity for relief has ended.(14) hazard analysis.
iv
Visiting Ships Panel (Nuclear) vulnerable groups Categories of
(VSP(N)) A Commonwealth displaced persons with special
interdepartmental committee tasked needs, variously defined to include:
ch
women. (93)
volcanic eruption The discharge
(aerially explosive) of fragmentary
W
ejecta, lava and gases from a
volcanic vent.(95)
volcano An opening in the crust that
has allowed magma to reach the
(13)
surface.
WADEM See World Association for
volunteer emergency worker A Emergency and Disaster
volunteer worker who engages in Medicine.
emergency activity at the request
(whether directly or indirectly) or with warm zone The area where personnel
the express or implied consent of and equipment decontamination and
the chief executive (however hot zone support takes place. It
designated), or of a person acting includes control points for the
with the authority of the chief access corridor and thus assists in
executive, of an agency to which reducing the spread of
contamination. Syn.
d
threatened, distressed,
will cause a spill fire to spread if
disadvantaged, homeless or
improperly used and will only serve
e
to spread a fire when directed into
open containers of flammable or
evacuated; and, the maintenance of
health, well-being and prosperity of
iv
(89) such persons with all available
combustible liquids.
community resources until their
(58)
water point Natural or artificial water rehabilitation is achieved.
ch
d
station for a specific period of
radiation only as opposed to organ
time.(108)
doses which can be received by
dose.
e
inhalation or ingestion.(69) See also wind strength See wind force.
iv
windrow A long line of piled slash or
WICEN Wireless Institute Civil debris resulting from forest or scrub
Emergency Network. clearing.(3)
ch
World Association for Emergency system for food aid, both for
and Disaster Medicine (WADEM) development projects and
Major worldwide organisation of emergency relief in drought or
professionals from a wide range of famine, by mobilisation of bulk
health disciplines engaged in or foodstuffs (while the Food and
promoting better knowledge and Agriculture Organization mobilises
practice of all aspects of emergency resources). Has a food-for-work
medicine and disaster mechanism for refugee and disaster
(72) (72)
medicine. situations.
World Food Programme (WFP) The
organisation of the United Nations
and research. The essential
World Health Organization (WHO)
elements of the WWW are: the
The health arm of the United
Global Observing System, the
Nations, aiming at “the attainment
Global Data-processing System and
by all peoples of the highest
the Global Telecommunication
possible level of health”.
System (used also for transmission
Coordinates efforts to raise health
of seismic information in the Far
levels worldwide and promotes the
d
East).(95)
development of primary health.
Besides multiple public health WWW See World Weather Watch.
programmes and actions, it is
engaged in disaster preparedness
e
iv
X
and relief both at headquarters and
at six Regional Offices, and
coordinates the health sector of any
ch
Z
the interest of various human
(108)
activities.
World Weather Watch (WWW) The
world-wide, coordinated, developing
system of meteorological facilities
and services provided by World zonation The subdivision of a
Meteorological Organization geographical entity (country, region,
Members for the purpose of etc.) into homogenous sectors with
ensuring that all Members obtain respect to certain criteria (for
the meteorological information example, intensity of the hazard,
required both for operational work degree of risk, same overall
e d
iv
ch
Ar
Annex A
REFERENCES
19. correspondence from Australian Maritime Safety
1. Australasian Fire Authorities Council (1994) Authority, 13/1/98
Incident Control System: The Operating System of
AIIMS 20. correspondence from Country Fire Authority,
28/1/98
2. Australasian Fire Authorities Council (1996)
Glossary of Rural Fire Terminology 21. correspondence from Emergency Management
Australia, 3/2/98
3. Australasian Fire Authorities Council (1997)
Hazardous Materials 1 (Learning Manual 2.16) 22. correspondence from Queensland Police Service,
Addison Wesley Longman Pty Ltd, South 30/12/97
Melbourne
23. correspondence from South Australia Ambulance
4. Australian and New Zealand Hazardous Industry Service
Planning Taskforce (1995) Safety Management
System Guidelines 24. Department of Defence (1 g93) Defence
Instruction (Operations) 05-1, Defence Assistance
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Glossary of Some Nuclear Terms Canberra
6. Australian Maritime Safety Authority (1997) 25. Department of Environment and Planning (1991)
NationalPlan to Combat Pollution of the Sea by Coastal Resources Atlas, Hobart
d
Oil, Canberra
e 26. Department of Environment and Planning (1991)
7. Australian Maritime Safety Authority (1997) Map Reading Handbook, Hobart
National Search and Rescue Manual, Canberra
27. Department of Planning and Urban Development
iv
8. Australian National Committee on Large Dams (1990) Planning for Hazards and Safety, Perth
(1986) Guidelines on design floods for dams
28. Department of Primary Industries and Energy
9. Australian National Committee on Large Dams (1991) AUSVETPLAN: The Australian Veterinary
ch
12. Bolt, B.A. (1993) Earthquakes, W.H.Freeman and 30. Duffus, J. H. & Worth, H.G.J. (1996)(editors)
Company, New York Fundamental Toxicology for Chemists, Royal
Society of Chemists, Cambridge, United Kingdom
13. Bryant, E. (1991) Natural Hazards, Cambridge
University Press 31. Emergency Management Australia (1995)
Australian Emergency Manual - Disaster Medicine,
14. Bureau of Meteorology (1994) Climate variability Canberra
and El Nino
32. mergency Management Australia (1995) Flood
15. Bureau of Meteorology and Emergency Warning: An Australian Guide, Canberra
Management Australia (undated) Surviving
Cyclones, Canberra 33. Emergency Management Australia (1996)
Australian Emergency Manual – Disaster
16. Burklin, R.W. and Purington, R.G. (1980) Fire Recovery, Canberra
Terms: A Guide to their Meaning and Use,
National Fire Protection Association, Boston 34. Emergency Management Australia (1996)
Operations Centre Management, Australian
17. CONCAWE (1982) Methodologies for Hazard Emergency Manuals Series, Part IV, Manual 2,
Analysis and Risk Assessment in the Petroleum Canberra
Refining and Storage Industry, The Hague
35. Emergency Management Australia (1998) -
18. correspondence from Ambulance Service Victoria, Emergency Catering - Australian Emergency
22/12/97 Manuals Series, Part III, Manual 1, Canberra
36. Emergency Management Australia (1997) careers of emergency services personnel Prentice
Commonwealth Government Disaster Response Hall, Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey
Plan (COMDISPLAN), Canberra
55. Mobil Corporation (undated) The Language of
37. Emergency Management Australia (1997) Energy, New York
Emergency Management Committees Directory,
Canberra 56. Munchener Ruckversicherungs Gesellschaffl
(1984) Technical Insurance References, Munich
38. Emergency Management Australia (draft) National
Emergency Management Competency Standards, 57. National Academy of Sciences (1996)
39. Canberra, 2nd edition Understanding Risk: Informing Decisions in a
Democratic Society National Academy Press,
40. Emergency Management Australia (1998) Washington, D.C.
Multi-Agency Incident Management, Australian
Emergency 58. National Health and Medical Research Council
41. Manuals Series, Part III, Volume 3 - Guidelines, and Worksafe Australia (1995) Recommendations
Guide 1, Canberra for limiting exposure to ionizing radiation
(1995)(Guidance note [NOHSC: 3022 (19950)]
42. Emergency Management-Australia (final draft, 6 and National standard for limiting occupational
August 1998) Guidelines for Emergency Risk exposure to ionizing radiation [NOHSC: 1013
Management, Canberra (1995)], Australian Government Publishing
Service, Canberra
43. Everingham, l.B., McEwen, A.J., & Denham, D.
(1982) Atlas of Isoseismal Maps of Australian 59. Natural Disasters Organisation (1987) The
Earthquakes, Bureau of Mineral Resources Australian Disaster Welfare Manual, Canberra
Bulletin 214, Australian Government Publishing
Service, Canberra 60. Natural Disasters Organisation (1990) Australian
d
Emergency Manual - Disaster
44. Federal Airports Corporation (1993) Kingsford e 61. Rescue, Canberra
Smith Airport Plan
62. Natural Disasters Organisation (1992) Australian
45. Federal Emergency Management Agency (1988) Emergency Manual - Community Emergency
iv
Glossary of Terms for Dam Safety, Washington Planning Guide, 2nd edition, Canberra
46. Federal Office of Road Safety (1998) Australian 63. New South Wales Government (forthcoming) NSW
Code for the Transport of Dangerous Goods by Floodplain Management Manual, Sydney
ch
acronyms used in the tsunami literature, UNESCO, 65. NSW Government Guide to preparing fire
Paris management plans under section 41a of the NSW
Bush Fires Act
48. International Civil Aviation Organization (1991)
Airport Services Manual: Part 7 Airport Emergency 66. NSW Government NSW Animal Health
Planning, Montreal, Canada Emergency Plan
49. International Committee of the Red Cross (1977) 67. NSW Government NSW Aviation Emergency Plan
Protocols Additional to the Geneva Conventions of
12 August 1949, Geneva 68. NSW Government NSW Emergency
Managements Terms (welfare draft only)
50. International Convention on Maritime Search and
Rescue, 1979 and Annex A2 to the Convention on 69. NSW Government NSW Exercise Management
International Civil Aviation Guide
51. Lemoff, T.C. (ed.) (1989) Liquefied Petroleum 70. NSW Government NSW State DISPLAN
Gases Handbook, National Fire Protection
Association, Quincy, Massachusetts 71. Nuclear Powered Warships Visits to Australia
(author, date, publisher unknown)
52. Macquarie Library (1997) Macquarie Dictionary,
Sydney 72. Plastics and Chemicals Industries Association
(1996) CHEMSAFE
53. Meteorological Office (1991) Meteorological
Glossary, 6th edition. HMSO, London 73. R. J. Coleman & K. H. Williams (1988) Hazardous
Materials Dictionary Technomic Publishing Co.,
54. Mitchell, J. & Bray, G. (1990) Emergency Services Inc., Lancaster, USA
Stress: Guidelines for preserving the health and
74. S.W.A.Gunn (1990) Multilingual Dictionary of Building in bushfire prone areas - Information and
Disaster Medicine and International Relief, Kluwer advice, Homebush
Academic Publishers, Dordrecht
100. Standards Australia/Standards New Zealand
75. St. John Ambulance of Australia, Glossary of first AS/NZS 3931—1998 Risk analysis of
aid terms, St. John website, 1996 technological systemsApplication guide,
Homebush
76. Standards Australia AS 1170.~1993 -
101. Standards Australia/Standards New Zealand
77. Minimum design loads on structures, Part 4: AS~ZS 436~1995 Risk management, Homebush
Earthquake loads, Homebush
102. Standards Australia/Standards New Zealand
78. Standards Australia AS 1216—1995 SAA/SNZ HB76—1996 - Australian/New Zealand
Handbook - Dangerous goods initial emergency
79. Class labels for dangerous goods, Homebush response guide, Homebush
83. Standards Australia AS 2419.1—1994 106. The Simeon Institute Penultimate Emergency
d
Management Glossary, The Simeon Institute
84. Fire hydrant installations - Part 1 - System design,
e website
installation, and commissioning, Homebush
107. Tunnediffe, M. (1995) How to Manage the Stress
85. Standards Australia AS 2430.2—1986 of Traumatic Incidents: A guide for police,
iv
ambulance, fire, rescue and emergency medical
86. Classification of hazardous areas – Part 2 - personnel Bayside Books, Palmyra, Western
Combustible dusts, Homebush Australia
ch
87. Standards Australia AS 2484.2—1991 108. United Nations Department of Humanitarian Affairs
(1992) Internationally Agreed Glossary of Basic
88. Fire-Glossary of terms, Part 2: Fire protection and Terms Related to Disaster Management, Geneva
fire fighting equipment. Homebush
109. United Nations Disaster Relief Organization (1984)
Ar
94. Emergency control organization and procedures 113. Worksafe Australia (1990) Storage of Chemicals -
for buildings, Homebush Guidance Note for Placarding Stores for
Dangerous Goods [NOHSC: 3009(1990)] and
95. Standards Australia AS 4083—1997 Specifed Hazardous Substances, Guidance Note
for Emergency Services Manifests [NOHSC:
96. Planning for emergencies - Health care facilities, 3010(1990)], Australian Government Publishing
Homebush Service, Canberra
97. Standards Australia AS 4142.3—1993 114. Worksafe Australia (1994) National Code of
Practice for the Labelling of Workplace
98. Fibre ropes, Part 3: Man-made fibre rope for static Substances [NOHSC: 2012(1994)], Australian
life rescue lines, Homebush Government Publishing Service, Canberra
99. Standards Australia/CSIRO SAA HB 36—1993 115. Worksafe Australia (1994) National Code Practice
for the Preparation of Material Safety Data Sheets Publishing Service, Canberra
[NOHSC 2011: (1994)], Australian Government
Publishing Service, Canberra 121. Worksafe Australia (draft) National Standard for
the Storage and Handling of Dangerous Goods,
116. Worksafe Australia (1994) National Model Australian Government Publishing Service.
Regulations for the Control of Canberra
117. Workplace Hazardous Substances [NOHSC 1005: 122. World Meteorological Organization (1992)
(1994)], Australian Government Publishing International Meteorological Vocabulary, 2nd
Service, Canberra Edition, Geneva, 1992
118. Worksafe Australia (1995) Adopted National 123. correspondence from NSW State Emergency
Exposure Standards for Atmospheric Service
Contaminants in the Occupational Environment
[NOHSC: 1003(1995)], Australian Govemment 124. Emergency Management Australia (1997) Record
Publishing Service, Canberra of the Personal Support Services Workshop, 5-7
August 1997, Mt Macedon Paper Number 4/1997,
119. (105) Worksafe Australia (1995) National Mt Macedon, Victoria
Occupational Health and Safety Certification
Standard for Users and Operators of Industrial 125. correspondence from Airservices Australia,
Equipment [NOHSC: 1006(1995)], Australian 16/1/98
Government Publishing Service, Canberra
126. Emergency Management Australia (1996) Disaster
120. Worksafe Australia (1995) Standard for the Control Victim Identification: National Guidelines, Canberra
of Major Hazard Facilities, Australian Government
e d
iv
ch
Ar
Annex B
· all-hazards approach
· all-agencies approach
=> command
=> control
=> coordination
· comprehensive approach
=> prevention
=> preparedness
=> response
·
=> recovery e d
iv
prepared community
e d
iv
ch
Ar
Annex C
TABLES
e d
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1 1-5 1-3 Light air Smoke drift indicates wind Ripples are formed but
direction without foam crests
2 6-11 3-6 Light breeze Leaves rustle; wind vanes move Small wavelets; crests have
a glassy appearance and do
not break
3 12-19 6-10 Gentle Leaves, small wigs in constant Large wavelets; crests begin
breeze motion to break; foam of glassy
appearance
4 20-28 11-15 Moderate Dust, leaves and loose paper Small waves, becoming
breeze raised from ground; longer; fairly frequent white
small branches move horses
5 29-38 16-21 Fresh breeze Small trees in leaf begin to Moderate waves; many
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sway white horses formed
7 50-61 27-33 Near gale Whole trees in motion; difficulty Sea heaps up; white foam
in walking from breaking waves begins
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to be blown in streaks
8 62-74 33-40 Gale Twigs and small branches Moderately high waves of
broken off trees; walking greater length; foam is blown
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9 75-88 41-48 Strong Gale Slight damage to structures; High waves; crests of waves
slate blown from roofs begin to topple, tumble and
roll over
10 89-102 48-55 Storm Trees broken or uprooted; Very high waves with long
considerable damage to over-hanging crests; on the
structures structures whole the surface
of the sea takes a white
appearance; the tumbling of
the sea becomes heavy and
shock like; visibility affected
11 103-117 56-63 Violent Storm Usually widespread damage Exceptionally high waves;
visibility affected
12 >117 >63 Hurricane Usually widespread damage The air is filled with foam
and spray; sea completely
white with driving spray;
visibility seriously affected
3 (eg. Winifred) 170-224 Some roof and structural damage. Some caravans destroyed. Power
failure likely.
4 (eg. Tracy) 225-279 Significant roofing loss and structural damage. Many caravans
destroyed and blown away. Dangerous airborne debris. Widespread
power failures.
5 (eg. Orson) More than 280 Extremely dangerous with widespread destruction.
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2 965-979 151-175 1.6-2.4 Trees stripped of foliage and some of Coastal roads and escape
them broken down. Exposed mobile routes flooded 24 hours before
homes suffer major damage. Poorly hurricane centre arrives. Piers
constructed signs are severely suffer extensive damage and
damaged. Some roofing material small unprotected craft are
ripped off; windows and doors might torn loose. Some evacuation
be affected. of coastal areas is necessary.
3 945-964 175-210 2.5-3.6 Foliage stripped from trees and many Serious coastal flooding and
blown down. Great damage to roofing some coastal buildings may
material, doors and windows. Some be damaged. Battering of
small buildings are structurally waves might affect large
damaged. buildings, but not severely.
Coastal escape routes cut off
3-5 hours before hurricane
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centre arrives. Flat terrain 1.5
m or less above sea level is
e flooded as far inland as 13km.
Evacuation of coastal
residents for several blocks
inland may be necessary.
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4 920-944 211-250 3.7-5.5 Shrubs, trees and signs are all blown Flat land up to 3 m above sea
down. Extensive damage to roofing level might be flooded to 10
materials, doors and windows. Many km inland. Extensive damage
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5 <920 >250 >5.5 Increase on the extensive damage of Lower floors of structures
the previous level. Glass in windows within 500m of coast
shattered and many structures blown extensively damaged. Escape
over. routes cut off 3-5 hours before
hurricane centre arrives.
Evacuation of low lying areas
within 8-16 km of coast may
be necessary. Eg: Gilbert,
1988
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Hurricanes * * * * 0.3 0.6 0.9 2.0 1.8 1.0 * * 5.8
Tropical storms and hurricanes * * * * 0.3 2.0 3.6 4.5 4.1 2.2 0.3 * 15.2
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Western North Pole
Tropical storms 0.2 0.3 0.3 0.2 0.4 0.5 1.2 1.8 1.5 1.0 0.8 0.6 7.5
Typhoons 0.3 0.2 0.2 0.7 0.9 1.2 2.7 4.0 4.1 3.3 2.1 0.7 17.8
Tropical storms and typhoons 0.4 0.4 0.5 0.9 1.3 1.8 3.9 5.8 5.6 4.3 2.9 1.3 25.3
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Southwest Pacific and Australian
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Area
Tropical storms 2.7 2.8 2.4 1.3 0.3 0.2 * * * 0.1 0.4 1.5 10.9
Typhoons/cyclones 0.7 1.1 1.3 0.3 * * 0.1 0.1 * * 0.3 0.5 3.8
Tropical storms and typhoons/Cyclones 3.4 4.1 3.7 1.7 0.3 0.2 0.1 0.1 * 0.1 0.7 2.0 14.8
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Southwest Indian Ocean
Tropical storms 2.0 2.2 1.7 0.6 0.2 * * * * 0.3 0.3 0.8 7.4
Cyclones 1.3 1.1 0.8 0.4 * * * * * * * 0.5 3.8
Tropical storms and cyclones 3.2 3.3 2.5 1.1 0.2 * * * * 0.3 0.4 1.4 11.2
North Indian Ocean
Tropical storms 0.1 * * 0.1 0.3 0.5 0.5 0.4 0.4 0.6 0.5 0.3 3.5
Cyclones1 * * * 0.1 0.5 0.2 0.1 * 0.1 0.4 0.6 0.2 2.2
Tropical storms and cyclones 0.1 * 0.1 0.3 0.7 0.7 0.6 0.4 0.5 1.0 1.1 0.5 5.7
* Less than .05
1 Winds ~ 89km/h (Beaufort 10)
Monthly values cannot be combined because single storms overlapping two months were counted once in each month and once annually.
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III Slight Felt indoors. Hanging objects swing. Vibration like passing of 2-5
light trucks. Duration estimated. May not be recognised as an
earthquake.
IV Moderate Hanging objects swing. Vibration like passing of heavy trucks or 5-10
sensation of a jolt like a heavy ball striking the walls. Standing
motor cars rock. Windows, dishes, doors rattle. Glasses clink,
crockery clashes. In upper range of IV, wooden walls and
frames creak.
V Rather Strong Felt outdoors; direction estimated. Sleepers waken. Liquids 10-20
disturbed, some spilled. Small unstable objects displaced or
upset. Doors swing, close, open. Shutters, pictures move.
Pendulum clocks stop, start, change rate.
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VI Strong Felt by all. Many frightened and run outdoors. People walk 20-50
unsteadily. Dishes, glassware broken. Knick-knacks, books, off
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shelves. Pictures off walls. Furniture overturned or moved.
Weak plaster, masonry D cracked. Small bells ring. Trees
shaken.
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VII Very Strong Difficult to stand. Noticed by motor car drivers. Hanging objects 50-100
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continued below
XI Disaster Disaster Rails bent greatly. Underground pipelines completely out 1000-2000
of service.
XII Major Major Disaster Damage nearly total. Large rock masses >2000
Disaster displaced. Line of sight and level distorted. Objects thrown into
the air.
Categories of Masonry
Masonry A: Good workmanship, mortar and design; reinforced, especially laterally, and bound together using
steel, concrete, etc.; designed to resist lateral forces.
Masonry B: Good workmanship and mortar; reinforced, but not designed in detail to resist lateral forces.
Masonry C: Ordinary workmanship and mortar; no extreme weaknesses like failing to tie in at corners, but
neither reinforced nor designed against horizontal forces.
Masonry D: Weak materials, such as adobe; poor mortar; low standards or workmanship; weak horizontally.
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3 Moderate Walls out of perpendicular by 1-2 degrees, or substantial cracking has occurred to
structural members, or foundations have settled during differential subsidence of at
least 15 cm: building requires evacuation and rapid attention to ensure its continued
life.
4 Serious Walls out of perpendicular by several degrees; open cracks in walls; fracture of
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structural members; fragmentation of masonry; differential settlement of at least 25
cm compromises foundations; floors may be inclined by 1-2 degrees, or ruined by soil
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heave; internal partition walls will need to be replaced; door and window frames too
distorted to use; occupants must be evacuated and major repairs carried out.
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5 Very Walls out of plumb by 5-6 degrees; structure grossly distorted and differential Serious
Serious settlement will have seriously cracked floors and walls or caused major rotation or
slewing of the building (wooden buildings may have detached completely from their
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foundations). Partition walls and brick infill will have at least partly collapsed: roof may
have partially collapsed; outhouses, porches and patios may have been damaged
more seriously than the principal structure itself. Occupants will need to be re-housed
on a long-term basis, and rehabilitation of the building will probably not be feasible.
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6 Partial Requires immediate evacuation of the occupants and cordoning off the site to
Collapse collapse prevent accidents will falling masonry.
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rivers. Harbour works damaged. People drowned, waves
accompanied by strong roar.
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VI 16 Disastrous Partial or complete destruction of man-made structures for some
distance from the shore. Flooding of coasts to great depths. Big
ships severely damaged. Trees uprooted or broken by the waves.
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Many casualties.
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Class 1 Explosives
Class 2 Gases
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2.2 Non-flammable, non-toxic gases.
2.2 Subrisk 5.1 Oxidizing gases.
2.3 Toxic (poisonous) gases. e
Class 3 Flammable Liquids
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· For air transport, and for road and rail transport in AUSTRALIA, there are no
subdivisions of Class 3.
· The degree of hazard is indicated by the Packing Group.
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· For sea transport, and road and rail transport in NEW ZEALAND, Class 3 is subdivided
as follows:
3.1 Liquids with closed-cup flashpoints of less than -1 8°C.
3.2 Liquids with closed-cup flashpoints not less than -18°C but less than 23°C.
3.3 Liquids with closed-cup flashpoints not less than 23°C but less than 61 °C.
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4.1 Flammable solids; 4self-reactive and related substances; and desensitized explosives.
4.2 Substances liable to spontaneous combustion, which either immediately catch fire or
self-heat on contact with air.
4.3 'Dangerous when wet' substances which, in contact with water or water vapour, emit
dangerous quantities of flammable gases.
5.1 Substances which, although not necessarily combustible, may readily liberate oxygen, or
be the cause of oxidation processes and which, as a result, may start a fire in other
materials or stimulate the combustion of other materials, and therefore increase the
violence of a fire.
5.2 Organic compounds which are also strong oxidizing agents and may be liable to
explosive decomposition. Most burn rapidly, are sensitive to heat, shock, impact or
friction and react dangerously with other substances.
6.1 Substances which are liable to cause death or serious injury to health if swallowed,
inhaled or by skin contact (PG I and II); or Substances of lesser hazard (PG II) which are
harmful to health if swallowed, inhaled or by skin contact.
6.2 Substances containing organisms that are known or reasonably believed to cause
disease in humans or animals.
Class 9 Miscellaneous dangerous goods Substances or articles which present a danger not
covered by other classes. Class 9 includes a number of substances and articles which
present a relatively low hazard and environmentally hazardous substances that do not
meet the criteria for another Class.
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Many dangerous goods present more than one hazard. These are classified according to their major
hazard, and their additional hazards are called Subsidiary Risks. Subsidiary risk is printed on transport
documentation, storage placarding and site manifests and marked on packages, freight containers,
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vehicles and storage placards by class labels without a number.
Dangerous goods of classes 3, 4, 5, 6.1, 8 and 9 have been divided into 3 packing groups indicating the
degree of danger presented by the substance. This information is usually shown on documentation and
may be on substance labels.
PG I - substances that pose an immediate threat to life, health or property whenever there is a leak, spill
or fire, even in very small quantities.
PG II - substances that pose a significant threat in a fire or larger spill or leak. Flammable substances of
PG II will ignite readily at ambient temperatures.
PG III - substances that are similar in hazard to many found in domestic situations. Flammable
substances of PG III will usually be difficult to ignite at ambient temperatures. Generally PG III substances
pose a significant threat to health or property in open areas only when involved in a large fire or in a major
spill or leak.
www.ema.gov.au