The overall responsibility for handling the incident rests with the incident commander, who sets goals, plans strategies, and executes tactics. In ICS applications, the Incident Commander is the sole role that is always manned.
Various roles are entrusted with managing an incident on scene. These include the Liaison Officer, Safety Officer, and Rapid Intervention Crew Group Supervisor. During a fire, it is important to identify who is responsible for the incident. These roles have different levels of responsibility.
Liaison Officer
The Liaison Officer (LO) is an essential role within the command staff of the incident command center (IC). In an incident command center, the LO coordinates with other agencies to ensure that all activities are safe. He/she also has the authority to suspend unsafe operations. The LO also has the responsibility for providing incident-related data and evaluating changing conditions.
LOs are organized into groups. These groups are used to divide an incident into functional areas of operation. Depending on the complexity of the incident, groups may be geographical or functional in nature. A Group Supervisor supervises each group. This individual oversees the operational function of the group at the tactical level and reports to the Operations Section Chief, Branch Director, or Incident Commander.
LOs should be aware of their responsibility and be familiar with their role. LOs should also be aware of the role of an ICS in an incident. In an incident, the initial ICS is the first arriving company. They initiate the ICS process by giving the initial radio report.
A LO must be capable of making tactical decisions in the best interests of public health, safety, and the environment. The Liaison Officer is tasked with providing the necessary support to the Incident Commander. They will also serve as a liaison between other agencies and the public.
Safety Officer
The Safety Officer is responsible for monitoring the operations of the incident, advising the Incident Commander of operational safety, and establishing safety procedures. The Safety Officer also has the authority to stop unsafe acts that occur during the incident. This position reports directly to the Incident Commander and is a command staff member.
The Safety Officer is responsible for the safety of all responders during an incident. The safety of responders is paramount, and incident safety must be a top priority. The Incident Command System (ICS) provides the means to ensure the safety of responders. The Incident Commander appoints the Safety Officer. He is an integral part of the command staff of the ICS organization.
In case of an emergency, the incident commander is responsible for making tactical decisions without interference from management. The Incident Commander is responsible for allocating resources based on agency policy and available resources. Therefore, reliable communication between the Incident Commander and the Emergency Operations Center (EOC) is essential. The incident commander follows a preexisting policy and uses standard forms and checklists to manage the incident.
In addition to the Incident Commander, there are other officers who are important to incident management. The Incident Commander oversees the decision-making process, while the Safety Officer, Liaison Officer, and Information Officer provide support. Each of these officers has a specific role and reports to the Incident Commander.
Besides the Safety Officer, the Incident Commander may also assign an Information Officer to handle public relations, which includes interacting with news media. In this role, the IO reviews all news releases, processes requests from the media, and releases information.
Rapid Intervention Crew Group Supervisor
The Rapid Intervention Crew (RIC) Group Supervisor oversees the operation of the Rapid Intervention Crew. This includes conducting rescue operations and mitigation of the incident. The Incident Commander, on the other hand, manages the overall incident objectives. The RIC Group Supervisor reports directly to the Incident Commander and carries out his duties within the command structure.
The Incident Commander assigns divisions/groups to ensure effective emergency operations. He also advises the Division/Group Supervisor on specific objectives. The Supervisor must understand these objectives and the purpose of the tasks assigned to him or her. The Division/Group Supervisor is also responsible for managing the incident’s radio communications.
The Rapid Intervention Crew Group Supervisor oversees the medical teams and the medical supplies. He also supervises the Triage Unit Leader and Triage Crew. The TRIAGE Unit Leader is often the Incident Commander’s representative on the scene. He or she is responsible for triaging patients on scene and assigning them to the appropriate Treatment Area.
The IC is responsible for overseeing all incident operations. In addition to managing the operations, the IC will assign the job to an Information Officer responsible for interacting with the media and other agencies. The IC will also notify the Coroner if required. The Transportation Group Supervisor will manage the patient transport tracking records and ensure delivery of those forms to the coordinating hospital. These forms may be transmitted through radio or fax.
Company Officer
Managing an on-scene incident involves ensuring the safety of all personnel involved. The incident commander has overall responsibility for coordinating the incident response, assigning specific roles to each member of the incident team. He also establishes a timeline, which outlines actions to be taken immediately and later during the incident recovery phase.
The Incident Commander is the top officer who is responsible for coordinating all activities and decision-making during an incident. A team of officers, including a public information officer, a liaison officer, and a safety officer supports him. The team is organized into sections, with each section overseen by a section chief.
The first arriving Company Officer is tasked with achieving a number of things on the scene. Identifying the tactical priorities will help him prioritize his efforts. An acronym such as RECEOVS+RIT (Rescue, Exposures, Confinement, Overhaul, Ventilation, Rapid Intervention Team) can help him make a prioritized list. Then, he can change the priorities based on the most critical hazards.
The incident commander is in charge of all operations at the incident. He determines priorities and objectives based on available resources and agency policy. Typically, an officer with first-responder training fills this role. The Company Officer who received the initial call is also in charge of the IC’s responsibilities. In addition to the incident commander, the IC is responsible for coordinating with representatives from other agencies.
First responder
The first responder is generally the first to notice an emergency situation, and they are responsible for managing the on-scene incident. However, they can’t always arrive at the scene immediately. In these situations, a group from the school or organization must manage the incident until the first responders can arrive. In such a situation, the principal is ideal for the incident commander.
The first responder to arrive on the scene is called an incident commander. This individual wears a distinctive vest and has overall responsibility for the incident. Their role is to determine the incident’s objectives and set priorities according to the available resources and agency policies. In most cases, a first responder fills the role of the incident commander. The incident commander sets up a command post, which should be at a safe distance from the emergency. The incident commander should not move the command post until the situation is dangerous.
While the FLS has a unique role in critical incidents, it’s also important for FLSs to be good supervisors. They need to be able to focus on the big picture while delegating the smaller tasks. The FLS mindset is very different than that of an officer, so it’s crucial for FLSs to keep themselves under control during critical incidents. By keeping themselves calm, FLSs are more likely to inspire others.
Managing an incident is not an easy task. There are many challenges incident responders face, including inadequate information, a lack of coordination, and limited resources. For example, insufficient initial information can impede the ability to involve various agencies, and failure to secure towing services in time may leave obstructions on the road. Additionally, poor communication with motorists approaching the scene may prevent the emergency response team from being as efficient as possible.
FAQ’s
Who is responsible for the management of all incident operations?
The person in charge of incident management overall is the incident commander. The Public Information Officer, the Safety Officer, and the Liaison Officer make up the Command Staff. They give the Incident Commander their direct reports. If necessary, they might employ an assistant or assistants.
Who is in overall command of an incident?
The incident commander (IC), who is in charge of overall command of the incident, sets the incident’s strategy and objectives. With the IC, three positions/functions collaborate closely: Officer of Information collaborates with the media and informs the public as necessary.
What are the responsibilities of the Incident Commander?
The Incident Commander (IC) is in charge of managing the situation as a whole and chooses which posts on the General Staff or Command should be filled in order to keep the incident under control and give it the necessary attention.
FAQs
Who has overall responsibility for managing the on scene incident FEMA quizlet? ›
Who has overall responsibility for managing the on-scene incident? Incident commander.
Who has overall responsibility for management? ›A board of trustees is an appointed or elected group of individuals that has overall responsibility for the management of an organization. The board of trustees is typically the governing body of an organization and seeks to ensure the best interest of stakeholders in all types of management decisions.
Who is in overall command of an incident? ›The Incident Commander (IC) is the only position always activated in an incident. The IC sets the objectives, develops strategies and priorities, and maintains overall responsibility for effective performance of the ICS for the developing event.
Who is the Incident Commander on scene? ›In law enforcement, the first police officer on a scene becomes the incident commander. His responsibilities include making sure the scene is safe, identifying what additional resources will be needed and what immediate goals need to be established, and beginning to work towards those goals.
Is 100 who has overall responsibility for managing the on scene incident? ›Incident Commander: The individual responsible for on-scene incident activities, including developing incident objectives and ordering and releasing resources. The Incident Commander has overall authority and responsibility for conducting incident operations.
What is the primary responsibility of FEMA? ›The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is the federal agency responsible for leading the Nation's efforts to prepare for, protect and mitigate against, respond to, and recover from the impacts of natural disasters and man-made incidents or terrorist events.
Who has more responsibility leader or manager? ›A leader has followers who follow him, whereas a manager has employees, in the form of subordinates who reports to the manager about the day-to-day activities. While a leader sets directions, for the entire group, a manager plans the activities, for the smooth functioning of the concern.
Who is the person who is responsible? ›A responsible person is one who is disposed to take his duties seriously; to think about them, and to make serious efforts to fulfill them. To behave responsibly is to behave as a man would who took his duties in this serious way.
Which type of manager is responsible? ›First-Line Managers
They are directly responsible for making sure that organizational objectives and plans are implemented effectively.
Incident Controller has overall responsibility for management of all activities and personnel deployed to resolve the incident, provides leadership of the response to achieve agreed, planned and documented objectives.
Why must only one person be in command of an incident? ›
This single person is responsible for the overall command of the incident and the establishment of the goals and objectives at the scene. This allows the efficient utilization of all resources when dealing with an emergency while performing the response in a controlled and well-organized manner.
What is the role of the first crew on scene of a major incident? ›First Crew On Scene The first ambulance crew on the scene of a major incident will usually consist of a paramedic and a technician. Once it becomes apparent that a major incident has occurred the paramedic must assume the role of Ambulance Incident Officer until relieved by a more senior paramedic or ambulance officer.
Is 100 the number of subordinates that one supervisor can manage effectively during an incident is referred to as? ›Span of control refers to the number of individuals or resources that one supervisor can manage effectively during an incident. The optimal span of control is one supervisor to five subordinates (1:5).
Is 100 the Incident Command System ICS? ›IS100, Introduction to the Incident Command System, presents the Incident Command System (ICS) and provides the foundation for higher level ICS training. This course describes the history, features and principles, and organizational structure of the Incident Command System.
Who has the responsibility for the first response to disasters? ›When a disaster is declared, the Federal government, led by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), responds at the request of, and in support of, States, Tribes, Territories, and Insular Areas and local jurisdictions impacted by a disaster.
Which of the following is the responsibility of local government FEMA? ›The local government has the primary role of planning and managing all aspects of the community's recovery. Individuals, families and businesses look to local governments to articulate their recovery needs. Those plans should include a Continuity of Government (C O G) and Continuity of Operations (C O O P) Plan.
Who is FEMA and what is their main responsibility quizlet? ›FEMA is to lead and support the nation in a risk-based, comprehensive emergency management system of preparedness, protection, response, recovery, and mitigation. It is responsible for U.S. territorial waters, the enforcement of maritime law, mariner assistance, and search and rescue.
Which ICS functional area has overall responsibility for the incident? ›The five major ICS functions are as follows: Command: Sets incident objectives and priorities and has overall responsibility at the incident or event. Operations: Conducts tactical operations to carry out the plan. Develops the tactical assignments and organization, and directs all tactical resources.
Who holds the most authority and responsibility in emergency management? ›Primary responsibility for disaster response rests with state and local governments; the federal role supplements that of the states and localities. Currently, when a disaster overwhelms state and local communities, FEMA coordinates the responses of 26 federal agencies and the Red Cross.
What is the role of FEMA in responding to a disaster? ›The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is the agency that promotes disaster mitigation and readiness and coordinates response and recovery following the declaration of a major disaster.
What are FEMA workers called? ›
FEMA consistently seeks talented and hard-working people who are eager to assist disaster survivors and first responders on an on-call basis as Reservist employees. They are the main FEMA workforce during an emergency or disaster.