Incident Safety Officer

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Permalink Reply by Todd McKee on April 28, 2010 at 6:35pm

Yes that is correct! However, why doesn't the safety officer position for a working fire have qualifications/restrictions? What is the difference if it is HazMat or a Structure fire? Just trying to stir a good debate on FEC! Thanks Todd

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Permalink Reply by Michael D. Wilson CFEI, MDI on April 29, 2010 at 6:54am

My thoughts, Operations level to handle the incident with knowledge to call for more technical help. Knowing when to say when is very important. Safety Officers should have a certification, in safety!

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Permalink Reply by Brian Houska on July 7, 2010 at 1:32pm

I say change command succession so that the incoming senior officer becomes the Safety Officer, not the IC. This gives the power to overrule the IC to the guy who already outranks him (or her), avoiding a conflict between a junior Safety and a ranking IC who may be emotionally wedded to a course of action, safe or not.

On routine incidents, at my department this means the shift commander (Div. Chief) would be Safety, and the Captain would be IC, giving the Cpt the chance to develop as an officer, and the DC the chance to provide mentoring and oversight. There are other benefits too, and it works under current NIMS/ICS guidelines. What do you think?

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