| Abstract | This report summarizes the proceedings and findings of the project “Evaluation of Exposure Time until Recovery by Location,” which was funded by Transport Canada. The study involved the investigation of potential exposure times at eight locations dispersed throughout northern Canada. Exposure time, as defined in this report, relates to the total time from which an alert notification of an emergency event is sent, to when a rescue is affected. The primary goal of this study was to identify and assess key factors that influence the exposure time by quantifying the effect where possible. In order to evaluate exposure time and the numerous factors that can influence this time, a twopart study was conducted. This approach allowed us to obtain experienced based quantitative and qualitative information relating to the potential exposure times and related factor effects. The first component of the study involved the development of a two-part survey which was distributed to experts in the area of marine-based SAR resources as well as air-based SAR resources. The first part of the survey was a questionnaire which prompted responses relating to the effect of key factors at the different locations considered. The second part of the survey, termed as the factor ranking sheet, listed the key factors that had been identified through a literature review and requested that they be ranked in terms of their potential to increase exposure time. The second part of the study involved hosting a workshop to present the consolidated results of the exposure time survey, the details of the methodology that was applied to the consolidated results in order to determine the range in exposure time at each location and finally, the resulting exposure time range values. The workshop was attended by representatives of JRCC Trenton and JRCC Halifax as well as other representatives with experience in marine or air based northern operations. The workshop allowed for refinement of the survey-based exposure time ranges based on an open discussion of the factors considered as well as identification of other factors that were not captured through the survey. The workshop findings were applied to the survey-based exposure time ranges which resulted in the final survey plus workshop based exposure time range values. These range values are applicable to the conditions under which they were investigated and are subject to change if the actual conditions are vastly different. One such condition relates to the time of year for which the exposure time ranges were defined. The marine-based exposure times may differ greatly for different periods of the year since the strategic positioning of CCG vessels can change dramatically. The conditions and assumptions surrounding the defined exposure time ranges should be considered when contemplating the exposure times indicated. The final exposure times indicated that the minimum of the low-range exposure time values was 13 hours and this related to locations 6 and 8. The maximum of the low-range exposure time values was 27 hours which occurred at location 1, the most northerly of the locations considered. Another interesting point is that when considering marine resources only, the maximum lowrange exposure time jumps to 48 hours and occurs at location 1. Survival in the harsh environmental conditions of northern Canada even at the minimum predicted exposure times would be challenging. Efforts to ensure that operations in these locations are equipped with adequate emergency and survival equipment is essential to help prevent loss of life, given the exposure times that can be expected in these areas. This could be supported by strengthening policy and regulation relating to operational requirements and Life Saving Appliance testing conditions. This partial solution could be complemented by the more costly alternative of enhancing Canada’s search and rescue capabilities in the north. |
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