Site Main Controller Responsibilities in a Workplace Emergency

Strategic command rather than hands-on response

The SMC should remain positioned where an overview can be maintained. Entering the hazard area or becoming absorbed in one operational task can remove the person who is supposed to coordinate the whole response.

Strategic command includes setting objectives, protecting people beyond the immediate incident area, ensuring external assistance is called, considering business-wide consequences and maintaining senior-management awareness.

Initial actions

On activation, the SMC should confirm the incident location and type, establish an appropriate command point, verify that emergency services have been called when required and obtain an initial report from the SIC or control room.

The SMC should identify immediate life-safety issues, determine whether evacuation or in-place protection is necessary, confirm accountability arrangements and ensure that access routes for emergency responders remain clear.

Decision-making responsibilities

The SMC may need to approve escalation, shutdowns, wider evacuation, notification of neighbouring premises, deployment of additional internal resources and activation of recovery arrangements. Decisions should be proportionate to the available evidence but should not be delayed while waiting for perfect information.

A useful decision cycle is: obtain facts, identify hazards and people at risk, set priorities, select an action, communicate it, confirm execution and reassess. Each cycle should consider whether conditions are worsening.

Communication and liaison

The SMC should maintain concise communication with the SIC, security, facilities, first aid, management and relevant external parties. Conflicting instructions are dangerous, so the command channel and reporting intervals should be defined.

When SCDF arrives, the SMC should provide a structured briefing covering the incident, hazards, persons missing or injured, actions taken, site plans, hazardous materials, isolation status and resources available. The organisation should then support the authority's command arrangements.

Recovery and post-incident duties

After the immediate danger is controlled, the SMC should ensure that re-entry is authorised through the appropriate process, essential services are checked and affected personnel receive support.

The SMC should preserve records, participate in the debrief, identify corrective actions and ensure that the Emergency Response Plan is updated where necessary. Recovery should not erase evidence or bypass required incident-reporting processes.

Frequently asked questions

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