12/18/2023 0 Comments On scene fire commander trainingOnce established, the command post should not be moved unless the conditions of the emergency pose a threat. A command post is set up at a safe distance near the location of the emergency where the incident commander will manage the response. 4 The role of the incident commander is usually filled by the first responder to arrive at the scene, who is relieved of this duty when a more senior responder or a designated incident commander arrives. The incident commander determines objectives and establishes priorities based on the nature of the incident, available resources, and agency (or company) policy. A distinctive vest that contains the words “Incident Commander” is worn as identification. The incident commander has overall responsibility at the incident or event. 2 Each unit is headed by a section chief and may be further divided into subsections as required by the complexity of the incident or need to maintain the proper span of control. Operational need is the primary factor in determining what is activated. In this case, the incident commander (see below) will directly manage or assume the duties of each of the sections or activate the sections as additional personnel arrive. With small incidents, it is not necessary to establish all sections of the ICS. The five units (called sections) are as follows: The fire service version is expandable to 36 positions, but most are not relevant to business response. ICS is divided into five major functional units. Some believe the span of control in an emergency situation should be five subordinates or less. If the crisis expands and becomes more complex, the span of control is reduced to provide the most effective leadership. If the incident is small and the response is relatively simple, the ratio is eight subordinates to one manager. ICS is also sensitive to the basic management principle of span of control that limits the ratio of subordinates. By using this approach, the incident commander can coordinate the response to complex and technical incidents without unreasonable expectations. The senior responder is referred to as the incident commander. Response objectives are set by the senior responder and delegated to the subordinate positions after agreement that the objectives can be met. ICS is a tool that relies heavily on the concept of Management By Objectives (MBO). If the organization’s response requirements don’t warrant the use of an ERT, business owners and responsible managers (including recovery planners) should still be aware of the methods and protocols, such as ICS, that are used by the local jurisdictions to manage emergencies at their site. Emergency response teams (ERTs) may already be required by law or industry standard to utilize this system. Because of the growing interdependency among the response organizations of industry, business, and governmental agencies, the use of the ICS by business and industry is becoming commonplace, especially in light of the above standards. Its modular structure allows for a consistent and coordinated response to incidents of all types and complexity. Devised by the fire service in 1971, it provides guidelines for common multiagency operating procedures, terminology, communications, and management. It is primarily a field response system but is adapted for use in the Emergency Operations Center (EOC). The ICS is a hierarchical management system used by governmental agencies, fire, and police to respond to an emergency. Broder, Eugene Tucker, in Risk Analysis and the Security Survey (Fourth Edition), 2012 The Incident Command System (ICS) Emergency Management – A Brief Introduction
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