Fatigue management emerged as a critical health and safety consideration throughout the incident. Extended on scene and off scene activity, combined with significant travel distances, increased fatigue related risk. As the incident progressed, staff and resources were increasingly rotated in a manner aligned to the most appropriate duty systems, supporting more effective deployment, improved welfare arrangements and the management of fatigue related risks during sustained operations. Relief planning, sector rotations and welfare arrangements continued to develop positively throughout the incident; however, the experience highlights the need to further strengthen fatigue management considerations within future planning for prolonged incidents.

Vehicle and plant interaction presented increased risk during periods of high operational activity, contractor presence and reduced visibility from smoke and dust. This was most evident in the early stages of the incident, where some self deployment reduced overall coordination and situational awareness. In response, more explicit briefings were implemented, reinforcing route discipline, clearer speed management and expectations around vehicle and plant movements. Additionally, third party contractors were streamlined and brought under a single overarching contractor arrangement. Together, these measures improved coordination, visibility and overall safety as operations progressed.

Despite the complexity and hazard profile of the incident, it was safely managed without significant injury.

What Worked Well
• Effective risk based management supported by strong command, supervision and use of National Operational Guidance
• Early, proportionate management of high consequence risks, including UXO
• Safety arrangements strengthened in line with the escalation of the incident, with no serious injuries sustained.

Learning Opportunities
• Review fatigue, welfare and decontamination arrangements for prolonged
incidents
• Consider how coordination of vehicle, plant and contractor movements in complex operating environments and be built into existing processes and procedures
• Work with military partners to improve responder access to accurate UXO and hazard information at MOD sites.