Standards-setting and its implementation through the classification system for international urban search and rescue teams

Yosuke Okita, MA; Rajib Shaw, PhD

doi:10.5055/jem.2020.0469

Authors

Yosuke Okita, MA
Rajib Shaw, PhD

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.5055/jem.2020.0469

Keywords:

INSARAG, IEC, USAR, standards

Abstract

The network of international urban search and rescue (USAR) teams, International Search and Rescue Advisory Group (INSARAG), has started its unique classification system called INSARAG External Classification (IEC) since 2005. In IEC, teams are classified into Heavy or Medium category, and as of the end of 2018, more than 50 teams have been classified. It seems that, through IEC, INSARAG successfully implements the standards such as the INSARAG Guidelines although the document is nonbinding. This article analyzes why IEC has got strong support from international USAR teams and what are the keys to successful implementation of standards in international emergency management. It concludes that it has been successful because, for example, INSARAG carefully gains a consensus from the member states when creating the standards, reiterates the minimum standards instead of the best practices, and sets the clear goal. The endorsement at the UN General Assembly Resolution also contributed to gaining support. Although there are some issues which need to be considered to maintain the system in the future, the lessons of the IEC model can be used for other fields of international disaster and emergency management.

Author Biographies

Yosuke Okita, MA

PhD Student, Graduate School of Media and Governance, Keio University, Fujisawa, Japan

Rajib Shaw, PhD

Professor, Graduate School of Media and Governance, Keio University, Fujisawa, Japan

References

Department of Humanitarian Assistance (DHA): INSARAG Report of the Inaugural Meeting Held at Beuggen, Germany 11-13 December 1991. Geneva, Switzerland: DHA, 1991.

WHO: World Health Organization EMT Initiative, January 2017. Geneva, Switzerland: WHO, 2017.

Crews DT: The case for emergency management as a profession. Aust J Emerg Manag. 2001; 16(2): 1-2.

Hilhorst D: Being good at doing good? Quality and accountability of humanitarian NGOs. Disasters. 2002; 26(3): 193-212.

Alexander D: Towards the development of standards in emergency management training and education. Disaster Prev Manag. 2003; 12(2): 158-175.

Walker P, Hein K, Russ C, et al.: A blueprint for professionalizing humanitarian assistance. Health Aff. 2010; 29(12): 2223-2230.

INSARAG: Report on Meeting of Leaders of International Search and Rescue (SAR) Teams, 26-28 May 1997, Richmond, Virginia, United States of America. Geneva, Switzerland: DHA, 1997.

INSARAG: Meeting of the INSARAG Steering Group in Cestochowa, Poland, 5-6 October 1998. Geneva, Switzerland: UNOCHA, 1998.

INSARAG: Meeting of Leaders of International Search and Rescue Teams, 26-30 May 1998, Portland, United States of America. Geneva, Switzerland: UNOCHA, 1998.

INSARAG: Report on the Meeting of International Search and Rescue Team Leaders, Sydney, Australia, 3 to 5 December 2001. Geneva, Switzerland: UNOCHA, 2001.

UN: United Nations General Assembly Resolution: 57/150: Strengthening the effectiveness of international urban search and rescue assistance. 2002. Available at http://www.insarag.org/images/stories/GA_Res_57-150_English.pdf. Accessed July 11, 2019.

INSARAG: INSARAG Steering Committee Meeting, Geneva, Switzerland, 27 February 2002. Geneva, Switzerland: UNOCHA, 2002.

INSARAG: Annual Meeting of INSARAG USAR Team Leaders, South Korea, 17 to 19 November 2003. Geneva, Switzerland: UNOCHA, 2003.

INSARAG: INSARAG Steering Committee Meeting, Brisbane, Australia, 30 November 2006. Geneva, Switzerland: UNOCHA, 2006.

INSARAG: INSARAG Steering Committee Meeting, Geneva, 28 April 2005. Geneva, Switzerland: UNOCHA, 2005.

INSARAG: INSARAG Steering Committee Meeting, Dubai, United Arab Emirates, 27 November 2008. Geneva, Switzerland: UNOCHA, 2008.

INSARAG: INSARAG Steering Group Meeting, Geneva, Switzerland, 16-17 February 2012. Geneva, Switzerland: UNOCHA, 2012.

INSARAG: INSARAG Steering Committee Meeting, Beijing, China, 12 November 2009. Geneva, Switzerland: UNOCHA, 2009.

INSARAG: INSARAG Steering Group Meeting, Geneva, Switzerland, 4 June 2010. Geneva, Switzerland: UNOCHA, 2010.

INSARAG: INSARAG Team Leaders Meeting 2015, 16-17 October 2015, Abu Dhabi. Geneva, Switzerland: UNOCHA, 2015.

INSARAG: INSARAG Global Meeting, 15-16 September 2010, Kobe, Japan. Geneva, Switzerland: UNOCHA, 2010.

INSARAG: INSARAG Hyogo Declaration from the First Global Meeting of the International Search and Rescue Advisory Group (INSARAG), Kobe, Japan, 14-16 September 2010. Geneva, Switzerland: UNOCHA, 2010.

UNOCHA: Haiti Earthquake Situation Report No. 8, 2010. Available at https://reliefweb.int/sites/reliefweb.int/files/resources/0160C1FDCFADA27D492576B1000FE565-Full_Report.pdf. Accessed July 11, 2019.

UNOCHA: 2010 Haiti Earthquake Response: An After-Action Review of Response. Geneva, Switzerland: UNOCHA, 2010.

INSARAG: 2013 Annual Meeting of the INSARAG Steering Group, Geneva, 7-8 February 2013. Geneva, Switzerland: UNOCHA, 2013.

INSARAG: INSARAG USAR Team Leaders Meeting, The Hague, Netherlands, 16-18 September 2013. Geneva, Switzerland: UNOCHA, 2013.

INSARAG: INSARAG Global Meeting 2015, 18-19 October 2015, Abu Dhabi, UAE. Geneva, Switzerland: UNOCHA, 2015.

INSARAG: INSARAG Steering Group Meeting, Geneva, 11-12 February 2015. Geneva, Switzerland: UNOCHA, 2015.

Glassey S: Analysis of urban search and rescue markings applied following the 22 February 2011 Christchurch earthquake. J Search Rescue. 2013; 1(1): 29-49.

Okita Y, Katsube T: Coordination of international urban search and rescue (USAR) teams in the 2015 Nepal Earthquake: Disaster literacy for international USAR. J Jpn Assoc Earthquake Eng. 2016; 16(7): 24-36.

INSARAG: INSARAG Steering Group Meeting 2018, Geneva, Switzerland. Geneva, Switzerland: UNOCHA, 2018.

INSARAG: INSARAG Team Leaders Meeting Summary 2018, 19-21 September, Bucharest, Romania. Geneva, Switzerland: UNOCHA, 2018.