Who is responsible for the safety of personnel operating within the incident zone?

The responsibility for the safety of personnel operating within the incident zone lies with the Safety Officer. This role is specifically designated within the Incident Command System to monitor safety conditions and provide information about potential hazards to all personnel on the scene. The Safety Officer conducts continuous assessments of the operational environment and implements measures to protect the safety of responders at the incident.

While the Operations Section Chief oversees tactical operations and is responsible for the effectiveness of the response efforts, their primary focus is on managing resources and ensuring operational objectives are achieved. The Incident Commander holds overall responsibility for the incident response, including the safety of personnel; however, the Safety Officer is the specialized role tasked with focusing specifically on safety concerns. The Logistics Officer manages resources and support functions, which may aid in safety indirectly but does not have the direct responsibility for personnel safety within the incident zone.