Who has overall responsibility for managing the on scene incident?

Your incident commander is the primary point of contact and source of truth about your incident. They see the big picture, manage all the moving pieces, know what’s been tried and what’s still on the radar, and plan for and manage next steps.

Without an incident commander, communication and teamwork break down. It’s easy for teams to do duplicate work without knowing it, miss big-picture concerns, and fail to communicate quickly and accurately with system users, internal stakeholders, leadership, and each other. The larger and more complex an organization’s technology or team structures are, the more essential this role is to a healthy incident management practice. 

If you are sitting for a FEMA exam, one of the common questions to expect is this. Many candidates have reported being asked, “Who has overall responsibility for managing the on-scene incident.”

This is an important aspect of the Incident Command System (ICS), which means you must understand it well if you will be sitting for such an exam.

The on-scene Incident Commander is responsible for the overall management of the on-scene incident. This person is the highest-ranking officer at the scene and is in charge of all personnel, equipment, and resources. But let’s explain this a little further so you can have a holistic knowledge of the question, “Who has overall responsibility for managing the on-scene incident.”

Table of Contents

• The On-Scene Incident Commander Manages the On-Scene Incident
• What Are the Responsibilities of An On-Scene Incident Commander?
• What Is the Purpose of An Incident Command Post?
• Who Is the Person Responsible for Meeting with the Press and Public During a Disaster?
• What Is the Role of the Safety Officer During An Incident?
• What Is the Role of the Liaison Officer During An Incident?
• Final Note

The On-Scene Incident Commander Manages the On-Scene Incident

The On-scene Incident Commander, or OIC, is responsible for the overall management of the on-scene incident. The OIC will make decisions regarding staffing, equipment, and tactics needed to control and contain the incident.

The OIC is also responsible for determining when it is safe to terminate operations at an on-scene incident in order to release resources back into service within their jurisdictions.

The OIC may be a member of any type of emergency response team or agency that has been requested by local authorities to assist them in managing an environmental or natural resource emergency or disaster situation. This person may also be designated by a consensus decision made by all parties involved in responding agencies.

What Are the Responsibilities of An On-Scene Incident Commander?

The on-scene incident commander is the person who has overall responsibility for managing the on-scene incident response. The on-scene incident commander is responsible for assigning tasks to different responders, ensuring that all resources are used effectively.

He also coordinates with other agencies during a response effort. The Incident commander also manages their team’s activities through communication with emergency operations centers (EOCs), law enforcement agencies, fire departments, and other emergency response organizations.

What Is the Purpose of An Incident Command Post?

An incident command post (ICP) is a temporary location that serves as a hub for information and coordination during emergency situations. It is typically set up in an easily accessible area and a place near the incident site. Sometimes, they can also be moved from one location to another. They are mobile trailers in most cases.

The ICP helps keep responders organized by providing a central location where they can report in, get real-time updates on the situation, and receive instructions from their superiors. It also allows first responders to coordinate with each other when they are working in separate areas of the response area.

The ICP may be established at the beginning of an incident or when conditions change significantly enough that it becomes necessary to move around more efficiently or share more information than would be possible without one.

Who Is the Person Responsible for Meeting with the Press and Public During a Disaster?

The person responsible for meeting with the press and public during a disaster is the Public Information Officer (PIO). They are the ones who will communicate with both local, national, and international press.

They are also responsible for communicating with the public about what to do during the disaster and how to stay safe.

What Is the Role of the Safety Officer During An Incident?

The safety officer is the first line of defense in ensuring that incidents are managed safely. They advise the Incident Commander concerning issues that have to do with incident safety. They also work closely with the Operations Section to make sure all personnel are safe during the incident.

The safety officer ensures that all incident personnel are safe and will take appropriate action as necessary if they find that someone has violated protocol or procedures.

What Is the Role of the Liaison Officer During An Incident?

The Liaison Officer is a vital part of the incident response team. The Liaison Officer’s role is to establish contact with the victim and other stakeholders, gather and verify information about the incident, and coordinate the response process.

A Liaison Officer’s primary job during an incident is to be there for all parties involved. This means that they will be talking to all the response teams involved in managing the incident.

This position requires strong communication skills, which are necessary for both listening to people and conveying information back to them in a clear way.

The Liaison Officer can also work with external parties, such as law enforcement agencies or public health officials if needed. They may also need to speak with media outlets if the incident becomes publicly known before it has been resolved.

Final Note

It is important to understand who has overall responsibility for managing the on-scene incident and what their responsibilities are. Now you know the officer in charge is the On-scene Incident Commander.

We have also explained the roles of some other important personnel in the incident command system, including the Liaison officer, the safety officer, etc.

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