CORDON

            Cordons are employed as an effective method of controlling resources and maintaining safety of firefighters, the public and members of other emergency services.  These could be physical barriers such as fences/walls etc or notional boundaries reinforced by traffic tape.

            Inner Cordons

            Inner cordons are set up to control the immediate scene of operations.  This is a potentially hazardous area and it is important to maintain the highest standards of safety at all times.  Access to the area controlled by an inner cordon should be restricted to the minimum numbers required for work to be undertaken safely and effectively.  Personnel should only enter when they have received a full briefing and been allocated specific tasks (from either the Incident Commander or Command Support, when set up).

            At all incidents (except terrorist incidents) the Fire Service have responsibility for the safety of all personnel in the inner cordon.  Special provision should be considered for non Fire Service personnel who need to operate in the area.

             These should include:-

             ·        Record details of authorised visitors and sector location.

             ·        Safety equipment.  

 ·        PPE.

 ·        Safety briefing.

 ·        Evacuation signals.  

 ·        Effective de-brief.

             Outer Cordons

            An outer cordon prevents access by the public into the area used by the Fire Service, and other services, for support activities.  Outer cordons will usually be controlled by the police.

            RVP and Marshalling Areas

            Rendezvous points may be predetermined by risk inspections, or instructions from the Police.  Early consideration should be given by all Incident Commanders to the setting up of a rendezvous point remote from the scene of operations.

                   A Marshalling Sector Commander will organise the oncoming appliances and 
           dispatch them on to the incident when requested by Command Support.

                     Where the initial rendezvous point is unsuitable for marshalling, a designated 
            marshalling area should be set up.