We also offer an on-demand hazard refresher course online. For more information please click here.

Air accidents present a formidable range of challenges to organisations charged with providing a response. Such accidents can be hugely variable in scale and nature, occurring in almost any location at any time of day.

On occasions, the accidents may involve a major international emergency response. The range of tasks in response to an aircraft accident are designed to rescue survivors, identify victims, protect the public and conduct appropriate investigations into the accident causes. This course aims to provide an overview of what you may expect to encounter at an accident site and how to effectively manage the critical first hours of any emergency response.

At a glance

  • Dates
    • 04 - 05 Jun 2024
  • DurationOne day (refresher)/ two days
  • LocationOnline/Hybrid or Face-to-face
  • Cost

    Hazards and Evidence Awareness for Air Accident Responders (one-day refresher) - £350.

    Hazards and Evidence Awareness for Air Accident Responders (two days) - £600.

    Concessions available

Course structure

This two-day course provides awareness training and knowledge in both site safety work practices and in evidence protection and preservation activities. The course will include theory sessions along with various group activities/practical exercises. All delegates will receive a Certificate of Completion following satisfactory results in the course assessment and a certificate of completion of blood borne pathogen training Photo ID Card.

What you will learn

Upon completion of the course, you will:

  • Have an appreciation of the variability in scope and nature of air accidents
  • Be aware of the range of hazards likely to be present at air accident sites and during ongoing investigations of air accidents
  • Understand the various issues associated with managing occupational health risk at air accident sites and at facilities used for air accidents investigation
  • Be able to demonstrate risk assessment processes and in particular a predictive and dynamic risk assessment approach
  • Understand the recommended control/ mitigation measures for the variety of hazards likely to be encountered on accident sites,and be aware of the range and use of the personal protection equipment available for personnel responding to air accidents
  • Be able to demonstrate identification, selection and use of appropriate personal protective equipment for personnel responding to air accidents
  • Have achieved blood borne pathogen training to meet the requirements of ICAO Circular 315
  • Be able to recognise potential evidence for use by air accident investigators
  • Have an understanding of the need to protect and preserve on-site evidence
  • Be able to apply fundamental evidence preservation actions.

Core content

Organisations attending the scene undertake a wide range of tasks including first responder activities, accident investigation, airport/regional emergency planning and response, aircraft recovery and transportation and environmental remediation.

Whilst conducting these tasks, all organisations are required to provide appropriate health and safety management arrangements for their own personnel, whilst also ensuring that they co-operate and co-ordinate operations with other organisations working at the scene.

Personnel responding to air accident sites can be exposed to a wide range of health and safety hazards. These hazards – physical, material, biological and psychological – have diverse characteristics and pose varying risks, depending on exposure. To manage these risks, organisations must ensure that they have installed proper safety management systems to identify these hazards, assess risks and implement appropriate control measures.

In addition to managing safety responses, organisations should give due consideration to the evidence that may exist at the scene of the accident and those tasked with collecting and analysing it. This evidence may be required for a variety of purposes; most commonly for use in the identification of victims and in the determination of the reasons why the accident occurred.

Who should attend

The course is designed for those people who may attend, or be responsible for those attending aircraft accident sites including Airport Rescue and Fire Fighters, Airport Response Personnel, Aircraft Operators, Aircraft Maintenance Organisations, Aircraft Recovery Personnel, Firemen, Police, Paramedics, aircraft operators and maintainers, safety regulators, insurers and professional investigators. The course is a key element for those who may attend an accident site in the USA, where such training is already mandatory before admission on site. Other countries are progressively adopting similar requirements.

International investigative authorities are increasingly aware of the health and safety risks that accident site attendees are exposed to and are beginning to require evidence of safety awareness training before allowing individuals entry to hazardous air accident sites.

Speakers

The course will be taught by current professionals involved in all aspects of air accident investigation and safety management.

Concessions

Group discount: Where three delegates or more are booking from within one site or one organisation, a discount of 10% will apply to the invoice for the course tuition fee. Accommodation fees are not included in the discount scheme. Please ask about our discount scheme at time of booking.

Accommodation options and prices

This is a non-residential course. If you would like to book accommodation on campus, please contact Mitchell Hall or Cranfield Management Development Centre directly. Further information regarding our accommodation on campus can be found here.

Alternatively you may wish to make your own arrangements at a nearby hotel.

Location and travel

Cranfield University is situated in Bedfordshire close to the border with Buckinghamshire. The University is located almost midway between the towns of Bedford and Milton Keynes and is conveniently situated between junctions 13 and 14 of the M1.

London Luton, Stansted and Heathrow airports are 30, 90 and 90 minutes respectively by car, offering superb connections to and from just about anywhere in the world. 

For further location and travel details

Location address

Cranfield University
College Road
Cranfield
Bedford 
MK43 0AL

How to apply

To apply for this course please use the online application form.

Read our Professional development (CPD) booking conditions.