Personnel Roles and Responsibilities

9-1

Chapter 9

Learning Objectives

• List the roles and responsibilities of the individual responders and their relationship to the overall safety and health program.

• List the roles and responsibilities of the supervisors and their relationship to the overall safety and health program.

• List the roles and responsibilities of the emergency service management team and their relationship to the overall safety and health program.

Cont. 9-2

Learning Objectives

• List the roles and responsibilities of the incident commander and his or her relationship to the overall safety and health program.

• List the roles and responsibilities of the safety program manager and his or her relationship to the overall safety and health program.

• List the roles and responsibilities of incident safety officers and their relationship to the overall safety and health program.

Cont. 9-3

Learning Objectives

• List the roles and responsibilities of the safety committee and its relationship to the overall safety and health program.

9-4

Introduction

• Understand the various roles that the members of the organization play

• Responsibility extends to everyone• Many different persons have responsibility for one or

more components • Life Safety Initiatives 1, 2, 3, and 4 are linked to

various roles of a safety program

9-5

SAFEOPS and Roles

9-6

Roles as a Wheel

9-7

Individual Responders

• Individual responders– Most important link in the safety and health program

• Attitude• Teamwork

– Must realize that they are members of a team

• Active involvement– Be willing to take an active role in the safety and health

program

Cont. 9-8

Individual Responders

• Do be– An active team player– A good communicator– A leader– Aware of surroundings– A responder who works

within individual abilities– Together– A responder with a

safety attitude

Cont. 9-9

Individual Responders

• Don’t be– Preoccupied– Complacent– Surprised– A responder who attempts to do things outside of personal

abilities– A responder who maintains an attitude that it will not

(cannot) happen to me

9-10

Supervisors

• Front-line supervision– Person that supervises the team – Ensures that team members stay together– Maintains accountability– Ensures seatbelts are fastened prior to apparatus moving– Ensures proper protective clothing for the job at hand is worn– Responsible for inspection of protective clothing – Makes sure regular maintenance procedures are followed

Cont. 9-11

Supervisors

• Link between organization management and the individual responder

• Need the necessary mix of experience and education • Need to recognize dangers inherent in the occupation• Supervisor must apply knowledge and take

responsibility for the crew

9-12

Emergency Service Management

• Fire or EMS chief, or the director of emergency services

• Many roles in the safety and health program• Must give the safety program priority in terms of

support, both financial and administrative• Development of the organization safety policy

9-13

Incident Commander

• Highest level of the IMS • Ensures safety at the incident• Overall incident strategy and strategic goals

– Assigns tactics to meet these goals

• Careful and quick risk benefit analysis• Offensive or defensive attack strategy• Knowledge of fire dynamics, building construction,

and accepted tactics • Recognition-primed decision (RPD)

9-14

Safety Program Manager

• Focal point• Oversees program• To be fully effective

– Sufficient experience– Risk management principles– Cost/benefit evaluation– Emergency service operations

• Role and responsibilities

9-15

Incident Safety Officer

• Knowledge of the type of incident at hand• Part of the IMS command staff• Various functions and responsibilities• Incidents and role of Safety Officer

– Fire Incidents– EMS Incidents– Hazardous Materials Situation– Technical Rescues/Special Operations

9-16

Example ISO Worksheet

9-17

Safety Committee

• Involves employees • Representation from all levels and divisions• Meet regularly—publish minutes• Policy development• Recommendations

to senior management

9-18

Summary

• Each member of the organization has a role in the safety and heath program

• Roles should be specific with defined responsibilities• The safety program manager is the nucleus of all

activities• Incident commander plays a vital role as the person

who selects strategy and tactics for a given situation• Safety committee is an extension of the

organization’s membership and safety manager

9-19