The INSARAG Training Working group acts as an advisory body to the INSARAG Secretariat and USAR teams, supporting INSARAG training-related initiatives. The TWG designs, reviews, and implements training standards for approval by the INSARAG community. The group identifies training gaps in the field of USAR in collaboration with INSARAG, UNDAC, and the wider disaster response community.

The TWG is the custodian of five INSARAG training namely:

• USAR Coordination Course
• USAR Coordination Course Training of Trainers
• IEC/R Leadership and Mentor Course
• First Responder Course (available online here)
• Community Responders’ Training (available online here)

The TWG provide support on training standards and methodologies for the other INSARAG courses:

• ICMS Course (managed by the IMWG)
• IRNAP Leadership course (managed by the National Capacity Building WG)
• International Earthquake Response Exercise (IERE) (managed by the INSARAG Secretariat) (available online here)

The TWG updates – on behalf of the INSARAG network – the INSARAG training calendar on a quarterly basis with the above core INSARAG courses.  Other courses such as technical or operational courses as well as non-USAR courses are outside the purview of the TWG and as such are not listed in the INSARAG Calendar.

Countries interested in hosting an INSARAG training are invited to contact the INSARAG Secretariat for endorsement to find a suitable date. Note that the INSARAG Secretariat recognizes courses that meet the following criteria:

• The event must be agreed upon by the INSARAG Secretariat and included in the official INSARAG training calendar at least three months prior to delivery.
• The event should be open to international participation, with invitations shared across the INSARAG network.
• Training must be delivered by a minimum of two INSARAG-recognized experts, either members of an INSARAG Working Group or individuals who have successfully completed the Training of Trainers course.
• The standard course package and methodology provided by the Secretariat must be used for delivery.
• At the conclusion of the event, organizers must submit participant and facilitator feedback forms to the Secretariat.

2023

TWG Terms of Reference (TOR)

Leadership Course NL 2023

2022

TWG Meeting Notes of 15 December 2022

2021

TWG Meeting Notes of 24 November 2021

TWG Meeting Notes of 27 October 2021

2020

Following on from the previous online meeting which was held in July, the INSARAG TWG, with representatives of the IMWG, MWG and TL Reps held a further video conference on 12th August. The meeting discussed a variety of current INSARAG matters, ranging from the current IEC/R system review to the recent USAR deployments to the Beirut Explosion. The members also reviewed TWG workstreams, organisation of meetings and the distribution of work packages in order to better fit the challenges we are all facing during the COVID-19 pandemic.

TWG Meeting 8 July 2020

TWG Meeting Notes

2019

TWG Meeting Santiago de Chile October 2019

Chairman’s summary

TWG Meeting Muscat June 2019

The meeting was hosted by the Sultanate of Oman, Royal Oman Police (ROP), Public Authority for Civil Defense and Ambulance (PACDA), in Muscat, Oman. The meeting would not have been possible without the excellent support and generous hospitality of PACDA.

TWG Meeting Notes Muscat June 2019 Final Note

2018

Working Group Meeting, Germany, December 2018

The INSARAG Training Working Group, including representatives from the Team Leaders and Information Management Working Group, met in Berlin from the 10^th to the 13^th of December. The Group were hosted by Albrecht Broemme, President of THW, at the Regional THW Office in Berlin, and key agenda items for the meeting included; The development of the INSARAG Classification Team Leaders and Mentors Training Course, The continued development of USAR Coordination Course and harmonisation with OSOCC methodology, and Revision of INSARAG Guidelines Volume II, Manual C.

TWG Meeting Notes Berlin 18 Final Draft

Meeting during Team Leader Meeting, September 2018

TWG: Continues working with other WGs on guideline revisions, a new IEC/IER checklist, and a reformatted TL/Mentor course.

Training WG update

Working Group Meeting, Denmark, April 2018

INSARAG Training Working Group (TWG) met in Tinglev, Denmark in the DEMA Emergency Services College from 15 to 18 April 2018

Meeting Note

2014

FIRST MEETING, MARCH 2014 in ABU DHABI, UAE

SECOND MEETING, SEPTEMBER 2014 in QATAR

Member

2013

FIRST MEETING, MARCH 2013 IN LUZERN, SWITZERLAND

SECOND MEETING, JUNE 2013 IN BERN, SWITZERLAND

THIRD MEETING, SEPTEMBER 2013 IN THE HAGUE, NETHERLANDS

Member

2012

FIRST MEETING,17-25 MARCH 2012 IN BRISBANE, AUSTRALIA
INSARAG Website
INSARAG Document Management Procedure
Guidelines Division ISG and OPS
INSARAG Governance PP v0.1
INSARAG OPS Trng Performance & Equip Standard April 2012_V2
INSARAG Advisory Organisation Advisory Process v1.0
Outcomes from TLs Governance Workshop V1.0
USAR Team Description TL Meeting Australia 2012 v2

SECOND MEETING, 4-10 NOVEMBER 2012, LOS ANGELES, USA
The meeting was hosted by the LA County USAR Section (USA 2) and was
conducted in Los Angeles, USA, from the 4th – 10th November 2012. Please find attached the Chairman Summary .

2011

FIRST MEETING, 30 MARCH-03 APRIL 2011, COSTA RICA
The first meeting of the INSARAG TWG in 2011 took place from 30 March–03 April 2011 in Costa Rica back to back with the INSARAG Team Leaders Meeting. Below is the Chairman Summary of this meeting. Please note that the outcomes of this working group are not official INSARAG documents until they are endorsed by the INSARAG Steering Group.
Chairman Summary 

SECOND MEETING, 9-15 OCTOBER 2011, UAE
The second and last meeting of the INSARAG TWG in 2011 took place from 9-15 October 2011 in UAE.

2010

FIRST MEETING, 25-29 JANUARY 2010, SINGAPORE
The first meeting of the INSARAG TWG in 2010 took place from 25-29 January 2010 in Singapore. Below is the Executive Summary and outcomes of this meeting. Please note that the outcomes of this working group are not official INSARAG documents until they are endorsed by the INSARAG Steering Group.

Agenda and Executive Summary
Establishing National USAR Capacity
Minimum Operational Levels for Light USAR Teams
Minimum Operational Levels for Medium and Heavy USAR Teams

SECOND MEETING, 13-17 DECEMBER 2010, GERMANY
The second and last meeting of the INSARAG TWG in 2010 took place from 13-17 December 2010 in Germany. Below is the Chairman Summary and outcomes of this meeting. Please note that the outcomes of this working group are not official INSARAG documents until they are endorsed by the INSARAG Steering Group

The INSARAG Medical Working Group (MWG) in keeping with UN General Assembly Resolution 57/150 on “Strengthening the Effectiveness and Coordination of International Urban Search and Rescue Assistance” aims to enhance the INSARAG Guidelines that will enable the medical component of a USAR team and develop relevant medical guidance notes. MWG was established in 2008 with the endorsement from the INSARAG Steering Committee in 2007. This inter-regional working group aims to focus on the medical requirements of international USAR teams being deployed outside their countries of origin. The group meets two to three times a year. The reports of this working group’s meetings can be found below. The medical guidance notes prepared by this working group and endorsed by the INSARAG Steering Group can be found in the ‘Methodology’ tab.

2023

Chairman`s Summary – AAR and AEME Regional Meeting 2023 Qatar

Chairman’s Summary – Team Leaders Meeting 2023 Singapore

Participant List – Team Leaders Meeting 2023 Singapore

2022

MWG Geneva 2022 Chairman’s Summary Link

Attachment A: Participant List Link

Attachment B: MWG Agenda Link

Attachment C: MWG Input into the Flexible Response WG Link

Attachment D: MWG Update 10 May Link

Attachment E: Common Elements of Essential Information Relevant to both INSARAG and WHO EMTs Link

Attachment F: Hospital Assessment V4 Link

Attachment G: Recommendations regarding the documentation of vaccinations given to Team Members Link

2021

Joint Statement Issued by INSARAG MWG and WHO EMT – V19 May 2021 Link

Medical Working Group Monthly meeting minutes_May 2021 Link

Medical Working Group Covid-19 USAR Response Technical Note Link

2020

Medical Working Group Virtual Meeting minutes held on 27 August 2020 Link

 2018

Attached the updated Medical Working Group, which was held in Romania

Medical WG update

2017

The INSARAG Medical Working Group (MWG) met in Bali, Indonesia, on the 16-17 October 2017.
This meeting was hosted by BASARNAS of the Indonesia Government and co-organised by the INSARAG Secretariat.
Representatives from the World Health Organization (WHO) participated in the meeting as well.

2015

The INSARAG Medical Working Group (MWG) met in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates (UAE), on the 15-16 October 2015.
This meeting was hosted by the Ministry of Interior of the Government of the United Arab Emirates and co-organised by the INSARAG Secretariat.
Representatives from the World Health Organization (WHO) and the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) participated in the meeting as well.
Chairman’s summary of MWG Meeting 2015

2012

FIRST MEETING, 19-23 MARCH 2012, AUSTRALIA
The first meeting of the INSARAG MWG in 2012 took place from 19-23 March 2012 in Australia parallel with the INSARAG Team Leaders Meeting. Below is the Chairman Summary and outcomes of this meeting. Please note that these outcomes are not official INSARAG documents until they are endorsed by the INSARAG Steering Group.
Chairman Summary (English)
Patient Treatment Record

2011

FIRST MEETING, 30 MARCH-03 APRIL 2011, COSTA RICA
The first meeting of the INSARAG MWG in 2011 took place from 30 March–03 April 2011 in Costa Rica back to back with the INSARAG Team Leaders Meeting. Below is the Chairman Summary and outcomes of this meeting. Please note that these outcomes are not official INSARAG documents until they are endorsed by the INSARAG Steering Group.

Final Chairman Summary INSARAG MWG 2011 (English)
Annex A MWG Participants List
Annex B Final MWG Meeting Agenda
Annex C Emerg2011Poster
Annex D Cuba Meeting Proceedings
Annex E Survival Interval in Earthquake Entrapments
Annex F Optimizing Medical Response to Large Scale Disasters The Ad Hoc Collaborative Health Care System Letter to editor

SECOND MEETING, 18-22 NOVEMBER 2011, SOUTH AFRICA
The second and last meeting of the INSARAG MWG in 2011 took place from 18-22 November 2011 in South Africa back to back with the INSARAG/UNDAC Awareness Training. Please note that these outcomes are not official INSARAG documents until they are endorsed by the INSARAG Steering Group.
Chairman Summary

Outcomes of the meeting can be found below:
Medical Relief After Earthquakes: It’s Time for a New Paradigm
INSARAG Patient Treatment Record

2010

FIRST MEETING, 21-25 MARCH 2010, UAE
The first meeting of the INSARAG MWG in 2010 took place from 21-25 March 2010 in UAE in parallel with the INSARAG Team Leaders Meeting. Please find attached the Chairman Summary and its annexes/outcomes of this meeting. Please note that these outcomes are not official INSARAG documents until they are endorsed by the INSARAG Steering Group.
INSARAG MWG Meeting Chairman Summary (English)
Annex A Meeting Participants
Annex B MWG Terms of Reference
Annex C Summary of Discussions Points
Annex D Draft Recovery and Deceased
Annex E Data Collection and Publication
Annex F IEC Expert Classifier CV Form
Annex G IEC Schedule

SECOND MEETING, 24-28 MAY 2010, SWITZERLAND
The second meeting of the INSARAG MWG for 2010 took place from 24-28 May 2010 in Switzerland before the INSARAG Steering Group Meeting. Please find attached the Chairman Summary and its annexes/outcomes of this meeting. Please note that these outcomes are not official INSARAG documents until they are endorsed by the INSARAG Steering Group.
INSARAG MWG Meeting Chairman Summary (English)
INSARAG Guidelines Medical Supplement 24.05.10 – Final.doc
Draft MEDICAL GUIDANCE NOTE Provision of Medical Care
Draft MEDICAL GUIDANCE NOTE Recovery of Deceased 
Draft MEDICAL GUIDANCE NOTE USAR Medical Donations
Draft MEDICAL GUIDANCE NOTE Identification of USAR Medical Personnel
Draft MEDICAL GUIDANCE NOTE INSARAG Medical Handover Form
Draft MEDICAL GUIDANCE NOTE Post Mission Medical Reporting

THIRD MEETING, 13-17 SEPTEMBER 2010, JAPAN
The third and last meeting of the INSARAG MWG in 2010 took place from 13-17 September 2010 in Japan in parallel with the INSARAG Global Meeting. Please find attached the Chairman Summary.
INSARAG MWG Meeting Chairman Summary (English)

2009

FIRST MEETING, 13-16 JANUARY 2009, UAE
The first meeting of the INSARAG MWG in 2009 took place from 13-16 January 2009 in UAE. Please find attached the Chairman Summary and its annexes/outcomes of this meeting.
Chairman Summary

SECOND MEETING, 15-17 APRIL 2009, AUSTRALIA
The second meeting of the INSARAG MWG in 2009 took place from 15-17 April 2009 in Australia. Please find attached the Chairman Summary and its annexes/outcomes of this meeting.
Chairman Summary

2008

FIRST MEETING, 8-10 MAY 2008, UK
The inaugural meeting of the INSARAG MWG took place from 8-10 May 2008 in UK back-to-back with the INSARAG Team Leaders Meeting. Please find attached the Chairman Summary this meeting.
Chairman Summary

Current LTQAWG membership:

2022 Update

The first Light USAR IEC was completed during the INSIEME Exercise in Switzerland from 21-24 November 2021. This exercise had previously bee delayed by 18 months due to the COVID-19 Pandemic, and was conducted in the colder months, providing additional challenges for all teams. Following the successful exercise a review of the IEC was conducted by the LTQAWG via VidCon on 20 December 2021 after the IEC report was released.

A Review of Light USAR Team Classification – @fire November 2021 was prepared to review the Process, Observations and Recommendations from the Light IEC, and was provided to the INSARAG Secretariat on 28 January 2022. A follow up meeting was held in conjunction with the Team Leader’s meeting in Qatar on 7&8 March 2022, confirming that:

• The Light USAR IEC process has been developed and proven in practice.
• A review of the Light IEC process has been completed
• No changes to the Checklist are currently recommended
• Further improvements to the concept are expected in the future for flexibility as required by INSARAG.
• Classified Light Teams will provide more Classifiers to the global pool.
• Light USAR team concept is progressing for recognition by the EU Civil Protection Mechanism (ECPM) in 2022. RE: Council Decision No. 1313/2013/EU
• Three Light USAR Teams are progressing to IEC in 2022

Recommendations were tabled during the Team Leaders meeting for the LTQAWG to transition to a reference group (Light Team Quality Assurance Reference Group – LTQARG), to provide technical and concept advice to Teams, Mentors and Classifiers involved in future Light USAR IEC/R activities, until the concept is universally accepted and understood throughout the network. This recommendation was approved by the INSARAG Steering Group (ISG) during the HNPW meeting on 10 May 2022, transitioning the group to LTQARG.

Three Light USAR IEC’s are planned for 2022 for teams; GEA-Turkey; SARAID – United Kingdom; and Cyprus. The LTQARG update information from the 2022 ISG are here. 

Review of Light Team Classification – @fire November 2021

Workplans:

2021-2022

A LTQAWG meeting was conducted in conjunction with the @fire pre-exercise brief on 28 September 2021 (Slide brief provided). This meeting provided an overview of the Light USAR concept and considerations for the upcoming IEC (@fire).

The key discussion points during the virtual meeting included the overview of a light team IEC, and the focus on achieving the required assessment items in a reduced timeframe, as a result of only two work periods instead of the standard three periods for a continuous 24 hour exercise.

In November 2021, the first classification of a Light USAR team (@fire) to INSARAG IEC standards was completed as part of the INSIEME excercise, in Geneva.

Following the Light USAR IEC, a review of the process will be conducted by the LTQAWG members to highlight any areas of amendment required to progress the Light IEC process for future benefit.

This review will require the disclosure of the Light IEC report by the @fire team to assist with the analysis of the effective classification process.

A final LTQAWG meeting is planned fot the Working Group/Team Leader meeting in Qatar in March 2022, at which time a decision on the future of the LTQAWG will be agreed.

LTWG Review of @fire IEC

October 2019 Team Leaders Meeting Chile

INSARAG Light team Working Group Chairman Summary 

Attached, the Classified Light Usar Team Position

Completed work of the LTWG:

The document “Introduction LT” describes the concept of International Light Teams. At this moment the Guidelines text for the GRG has been assembled and rewritten on the Light concept and needs a final check to see if it is complete. The results will be shared with you before the coming summer holidays.

The document “Quality Assurance explanations” describes the advice of the LTWG to the new QAWG. A PowerPoint presentation is added to clarify the text and to show how a classification process could be setup for International Light. And at the same time could be used for a discussion about the classification process for Medium and Heavy in the future in the attempt to reduce the amount of work to assure the existing quality.

The document “USAR scale” explains the differences between national, regional and international deployment of USAR teams and the need for the type of quality assurance. The LTWG thinks that this document will clarify the inter-linkage between International Light teams and existing systems National-, Neighbour assistance- and classified International Medium and Heavy teams. A PowerPoint “National Regional and International assistance scale”  is added to show the build-up of a large scale incident.

The document “LTWG Meeting Chairman summary Valabre” is a reflection of the work of the LTWG during the final meeting in France in April 2017.

2018

• Designing the classification process for Light Teams and preparing the documentation for the implementation of international light teams in the system

Light Team WG update

At the INSARAG Steering Group Meeting (ISG) in 2016, the group directed the Secretariat to initiate the establishment of an INSARAG Light Teams Working Group (LTWG) with clear terms of reference and to request INSARAG regional groups to nominate suitable members. Relevant members from existing working groups could be co-opted. The LTWG will take the lead and, following consultations with the regional groups in 2016, present the recommendations to the ISG of 2017 for a decision.

The LTWG is made up of representatives coming from the three INSARAG Regional Groups, and are selected from different USAR Teams Heavy, Medium and non-classified teams selected by the Secretariat. The LTWG is chaired by Arjan Stam, Team leader from the Dutch USAR team, chair of the UCC in the earthquake of Nepal, IEC/IER Team leader and the member of the GRG.

The first meeting of the LTWG was held in Geneva from 15-17 June 2016 and was also attended by the Chair of the TWG Mr Dewey Perks.

Chairman’s Summary – First LTWG Meeting 15-17 June 2016

Discussion paper

Proposal External support and Validation process National Accreditation_ENG

2023 Updates

Information Management Working Group – ToR

IMWG – Meeting Minutes June 2023 – link

2022 Updates

ICMS Pre-Course Presentation – Link

System & Coordination Overview – Link

ICMS Team Activity – Link

ICMS Coordination Activity – Link

USAR Coordination – Link

Meeting Notes-Link

2021
IMWG Minutes – 14/09/21 – Link

INSARAG ICMS UPGRADE – Link

IMWG Minutes – 06/07/2021 – Link

IMWG Minutes – 08/06/2021 – Link

• ICMS Handbook (English version)
  • ICMS – EXCON Guide Link
  • ICMS – RDC Guide Link
  • ICMS – Team Guide Link
  • ICMS – UCC Guide Link

• ICMS Handbook (Spanish version)
  • ICMS – EXCON Guide Link
  • ICMS – RDC Guide Link
  • ICMS – Team Guide Link
  • ICMS – UCC Guide Link

• ICMS Handbook (Italian version)
  • ICMS – EXCON Guide Link
  • ICMS – RDC Guide Link
  • ICMS – Team Guide Link
  • ICMS – UCC Guide Link

2020

• Minutes of IMWG Meeting on 06/10/2020 Link
• Minutes of IMWG meeting on 05/05/2020 Link

2019

• IMWG 2010_ICMS Brief for UCC

MWG products during the Team Leaders  Meeting in Chile 2019:

• Chairman Summary
• Agenda
• Informal Meeting 11 October 2019

:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

• The attached workflow explains each phase of the INSARAG process and who completes the appropriate forms. This document is designed to show the INSARAG workflow using the ArcGIS Survey123, Explorer and Dashboard apps.
• ESRI Guide

2018

• Establishing 5 strategic objectives in order to provide an effective data management methodology that will ensure a coordinated and comprehensive collection, analysis and reporting capability.
• Information Management WG update

2017

The larger group would facilitate effective taskings and coverage in the operational implementation phase of IMWG in actual disaster response. The IMWG’s primary objective as stated in the ToRs will oversee the ongoing implementation and operationalisation of the IMWG Toolbox in training and in actual field operations. The IMWG will develop jointly with OCHA and Technical Partners, a manual that includes guidance for Information Management, at USAR team management and UCC levels, and activation protocols for actual disaster response. Furthermore, the IMWG will also develop the 5 criteria for the IEC/R checklist 2018.

The first IMWG WEBEX Meeting was held last 29 June 2017 CEST and was fully attended by all the members of the working group