Roles

Version 17.1 by Tjalling Haije on 2025/09/15 08:59

All roles within USAR operation

In SYNERGISE, we distinguish between two First Responder departments: Urban Search and Rescue (USAR) and Fire Department (FD). These two departments work closely together during an incident. At the end of the overview, some new actors are identified that do not currently exist, but that may need to be included when new technologies are introduced. 

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StakeholderDescription 
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USAR Coordination Cell

Manages the (international) coordination between all stakeholders involved in an incident. 

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Team Leader (TL) - USAR

Responsible for the whole USAR team. Communication with UCC

Participates at the team leader meetings to get tasks assigned

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Deputy Team leader - USAR

Responsible for all staff at the Base of Operations (BOO)

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Staff - USAR

Located at the BOO. Includes: Information, Staff, Media, ICT,  and Hazmat

 
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Logistics - USAR

Located at the BOO. Responsible for logistics of an incident

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Medical - USAR

Located at the BOO. Medical professionals.

Provides more in-depth assessment of victim health and can perform emergency treatments

Tracks the health of first responders

Assesses medical equipment for extraction 

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Liaison - USAR

Located at the BOO. Responsible for the communication with third-party organisations during an incident

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Chief of Operations - USAR

Responsible for all rescue operations at all assigned worksites; usually at a worksite during setup and during critical phases

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Chief Search and Rescue - USAR

Responsible for all staff at one worksite

Contact to Local Emergency Management Ageny (LEMA) at the worksite

Using INSARAG Coordination Management System (ICMS) Survey 123 forms

Communication/ contact to BoO (Base of operation)

Overall strategy and safety in line with guidance by CoO and advice of paramedic, structural engineer and squad leader after initial overview/ survey

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Squad Leader - USAR

Located in the field. Leads the technical rescue operation

In depth analysis of the situation and solution proposal

Close communication with CSAR, structural engineer, paramedic, maintenance and his team

In need of all the detailed information, search results, measurements, data etc

Decides and guides search techniques, routes inside the worksite and breaking/ breaching as well as rope rescue

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Structural Engineer - USAR

Located in the field. Analyses structural integrity of buildings to assess risks of collapse and stabilises buildings where necessary 

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Paramedic - USAR

Located in the field. Assesses victim health and performs emergency treatment for victim stabilisation where necessary

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Maintenance - USAR

Located in the field. Responsible for maintenance during an incident 

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Rescue Expert - USAR

Located in the field. Expertise in rescuing victims

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Search Tech - USAR

Located in the field. Expertise in searching for victims

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Dog + Handler - USAR

Located in the field. Searches for (entrapped) victims with the help of scent

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Fire Chief - FD

Responsible for all staff at a fire department

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Incident Commander (IC) - FD

Responsible for the incident as a whole

Communication with the Fire Chief and TLs

Chair of the team leader meetings

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Team Leader - FD

Participate at the team leader meetings to get tasks assigned

Responsible for the whole team

Communication with "her/his" IC

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Chauffeur - FD

Drives the firefighters to and around the incident

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Firefighter - FD

Responsible for mitigating hazards such as fires and gas leaks

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Tactical Operator - NEW

Located in the BOO. Responsible for controlling robots remotely. 

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Operational Operator (Field Operator) - NEW

Located in the field. Responsible for controlling robots on-site.