When the Safety Officer arrives on the scene, what should the Incident Commander do?

• A. Have the Safety Officer review the Incident Action Plan.
• B. Delegate command to the Safety Officer.
• C. Place the Safety Officer under operations.
• D. Make the Safety Officer a branch officer.

Answer: (A)

Safety oversight is provided by the Safety Officer reviewing the plan to ensure hazards and controls are addressed before actions begin. When the Safety Officer arrives, the Incident Commander should have them review the Incident Action Plan to verify that safety hazard identification, risk assessments, and mitigation measures are properly integrated into the plan and feasible for the upcoming operations. The Incident Commander retains overall command; delegating command or placing the Safety Officer under Operations would undermine the Safety Officer’s independent oversight, and making them a branch officer would blur responsibilities. This review helps catch safety gaps early and keeps the incident response aligned with safe operating procedures.