Numerous rockfalls released during the 2010–2011 Canterbury earthquake sequence affected vital road sections for local commuters. We quantified rockfall fatality risk on two main routes by adapting a risk approach for roads originally developed for snow avalanche risk. We present results of the collective and individual fatality risks for traffic flow and waiting traffic. Waiting traffic scenarios particularly address the critical spatial-temporal dynamics of risk, which should be acknowledged in operational risk management. Comparing our results with other risks commonly experienced in New Zealand indicates that local rockfall risk is close to tolerability thresholds and likely exceeds acceptable risk.
A plan which defines the risk and opportunity management activities to be applied by SCIRT to meet SCIRT objectives. The first version of this plan was produced on 12 September 2011.
A tool which outlines the eight critical risks applicable to the SCIRT programme, and sets out minimum standards for addressing these risks. This tool was created in 2014.
A poster which illustrates each of SCIRT's eight critical risks.
A document that defines the requirements and objectives of design activities for SCIRT's reconstruction of the city's horizontal infrastructure and describes how these activities should be implemented.
A detailed presentation created in 2011, outlining the approach to the central city rebuild and associated risk management.
An early swim lane diagram which visually distinguishes responsibilities for SCIRT's ECI process.
A document which discusses the importance of the ECI process at SCIRT.
A document which outlines the roles, responsibilities and deliverables of people involved with the SCIRT ECI process.
A document which outlines the purpose and processes associated with ECI at SCIRT.
An entry from Deborah Fitchett's blog for 14 November 2011, posted to Dreamwidth. The entry is titled, "In which she risks packing anxiety dreams".The entry was downloaded on 16 April 2015.
An entry from Deborah Fitchett's blog for 14 November 2011, posted to Livejournal. The entry is titled, "In which she risks packing anxiety dreams".The entry was downloaded on 13 April 2015.
The city of Christchurch has experienced over 10,000 aftershocks since the 4th of September 2010 earthquake of which approximately 50 have been greater than magnitude 5. The damage caused to URM buildings in Christchurch over this sequence of earthquakes has been well documented. Due to the similarity in age and construction of URM buildings in Adelaide, South Australia and Christchurch (they are sister cities, of similar age and heritage), an investigation was conducted to learn lessons for Adelaide based on the Christchurch experience. To this end, the number of URM buildings in the central business districts of both cities, the extent of seismic strengthening that exists in both cities, and the relative earthquake hazards for both cities were considered. This paper will report on these findings and recommend strategies that the city of Adelaide could consider to significantly reduce the seismic risk posed by URM buildings in future earthquake.
A design guideline which provides guidance to designers on how to carry out a whole of life evaluation of rebuild options.
A paper which details earthquake expectation data, supplied to SCIRT by GNS Science.
A pdf copy of a spreadsheet tool used by designers to undertake a whole of life evaluation of rebuild options.
A document which outlines how to work safely around underground services, created to discuss with site staff at on-site "toolbox talks".
A document which outlines how to work safely in confined spaces, created to discuss with site staff at on-site "toolbox talks".
A document which outlines how to safely carry out lifting operations, created to discuss with site staff at on-site "toolbox talks".
A document which stipulates SCIRT's minimum standard for managing the risks arising from working around services.
A document which contains several examples of SCIRT Safety Alerts, which were documents sent out to inform and educate all site staff after an incident.
A document which outlines how to work safely in trenches and excavations, created to discuss with site staff at on-site "toolbox talks".
A bowtie diagram which SCIRT used to evaluate the risks associated with and analyse the causal relationships associated with service strikes.
A document which outlines how to work safely with powered plant and tools, created to discuss with site staff at on-site "toolbox talks".
This paper presents the preliminary conclusions of the first stage of Wellington Case Study project (Regulating For Resilience in an Earthquake Vulnerable City) being undertaken by the Disaster Law Research Group at the University of Canterbury Law School. This research aims to map the current regulatory environment around improving the seismic resilience of the urban built environment. This work provides the basis for the second stage of the project which will map the regulatory tools onto the reality of the current building stock in Wellington. Using a socio-legal methodology, the current research examines the regulatory framework around seismic resilience for existing buildings in New Zealand, with a particularly focus on multi-storey in the Wellington CBD. The work focusses both on the operation and impact of the formal seismic regulatory tools open to public regulators (under the amended Building Act) as other non-seismic regulatory tools. As well as examining the formal regulatory frame, the work also provides an assessment of the interactions between other non-building acts (such as Health and Safety at Work Act 2015) on the requirements of seismic resilience. Other soft-law developments (particularly around informal building standards) are also examined. The final output of this work will presents this regulatory map in a clear and easily accessible manner and provide an assessment of the suitability of this at times confusing and patchy legal environment as Wellington moves towards becoming a resilient city. The final conclusion of this work will be used to specifically examine the ability of Wellington to make this transition under the current regulatory environment as phase two of the Wellington Case Study project.
A video of a presentation by Dr Erin Smith during the Community Resilience Stream of the 2016 People in Disasters Conference. The presentation is titled, "A Qualitative Study of Paramedic Duty to Treat During Disaster Response".The abstract for this presentation reads as follows: Disasters place unprecedented demands on emergency medical services and test paramedic personal commitment to the health care profession. Despite this challenge, legal guidelines, professional codes of ethics and ambulance service management guidelines are largely silent on the issue of professional obligations during disasters. They provide little to no guidance on what is expected of paramedics or how they ought to approach their duty to treat in the face of risk. This research explores how paramedics view their duty to treat during disasters. Reasons that may limit or override such a duty are examined. Understanding these issues is important in enabling paramedics to make informed and defensible decisions during disasters. The authors employed qualitative methods to gather Australian paramedic perspectives. Participants' views were analysed and organised according to three emerging themes: the scope of individual paramedic obligations, the role and obligations of ambulance services, and the broader ethical context. Our findings suggest that paramedic decisions around duty to treat will largely depend on their individual perception of risk and competing obligations. A reciprocal obligation is expected of paramedic employers. Ambulance services need to provide their employees with the best current information about risks in order to assist paramedics in making defensible decisions in difficult circumstances. Education plays a key role in providing paramedics with an understanding and appreciation of fundamental professional obligations by focusing attention on both the medical and ethical challenges involved with disaster response. Finally, codes of ethics might be useful, but ultimately paramedic decisions around professional obligations will largely depend on their individual risk assessment, perception of risk, and personal value systems.
A document which outlines how to work safely at height and depth, created to discuss with site staff at on-site "toolbox talks".
A document which outlines how to keep site staff and public safe around mobile plant, created to discuss with site staff at on-site "toolbox talks".
A document which outlines how to keep site staff and public safe around traffic, created to discuss with site staff at on-site "toolbox talks".
A plan which describes how SCIRT would manage the risks associated with rebuilding horizontal infrastructure within Christchurch's central city area. The first version of this plan was produced on 24 October 2013.