South Line Fire District #10
Incident Safety Officers
SOUTH LINE I.S.O. 1 – ROBERT RACKL
SOUTH LINE I.S.O. 2 – WILLIAM PALUMBO
WHAT IS AN INCIDENT SAFETY OFFICER?
The primary propose of an Incident Safety Officer is safety of all responders on/off the fireground. The ISO in accordance with NFPA 1521 must have the ability, skill, and the knowledge to accomplish his/her role. The ability to recognize and forecast risks involving first responders utilizing his/her experience and intuition. The skill to communicate his/her concerns of unsafe operations to firefighters, officers and/or the Incident Commander diplomatically; thereby causing an incident or an activity of the incident to be altered, suspended, or terminated. The knowledge and experience in the type of incident he or she is assigned. This may include structure fires, emergency medical operations, and/or any one of a variety of special operations.
INCIDENT SAFETY OFFICER DUTIES
- Monitor conditions, activities, and operations: With a perceived risk, then take action
- Ensure the establishment of Rehab
- Monitor and report status of conditions, hazards, and risks to the I.C.
- Ensure the Personnel Accountability System is being utilized
- Receive/Provide a Risk Assessment of incident scene operations
- Ensure the establishment of safety zones, collapse zones, hot zones, and other hazard areas
- Communicate to all members present
- Evaluate traffic hazards and apparatus placement: Take appropriate actions to mitigate hazards
- Monitor radio transmissions: Stay alert for missed, unclear, or incomplete communications
- Communicate to I.C. the need for assistants: Due to need, size, complexity, or duration
- Survey and evaluate the hazards associated with a landing zone and interface with helicopters
FIRE SUPPRESSION
- Meet the provisions of Incident Scene Safety
- Ensure that a Rapid Intervention Crew is available and ready
- Building fire: Advise the I.C. of hazards, collapse potential, and fire extension
- Evaluate smoke and fire conditions and advise the I.C. on potential for flashover, backdraft, blow-up, or other fire event that could pose a threat to operating teams
- Monitor accessibility of entry and egress of structures conducting interior operations
EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICE OPERATIONS
- Meet the provisions of Incident Scene Safety
- Assist EMS Coordinator to ensure compliance with the Fire Departments Infection Control Plan and NFPA 1500
- Ensure Critical Incident Stress Management is established as needed, especially for Mass Causality Incidents (MCI) events