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660 HAZWOPER for General Site Workers I
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Command Staff

The Command Staff is responsible for public affairs, health and safety, and liaison activities within the incident command structure. The IC/UC remains responsible for these activities or may assign individuals to carry out these responsibilities and report directly to the IC/UC.

  • The Information Officer develops and releases information about the incident to the news media, incident personnel, and other appropriate agencies and organizations.
  • The Liaison Officer serves as the point of contact for assisting and coordinating activities between the IC/UC and various agencies and groups. Persons contacted may include Congressional personnel, local government officials, and criminal investigating organizations and investigators arriving on the scene.
  • The safety officer is knowledgeable in the operations implemented at the emergency response site. Safety officer specific responsibilities are to:
    • identify and evaluate hazards, and
    • provide direction concerning the safety of operations for the emergency at hand.

When activities are judged by the safety officer to be an IDLH and/or to involve an imminent danger condition, the safety officer shall have the authority to alter, suspend, or terminate those activities. The safety official shall immediately inform the individual in charge of the ICS of any actions needed to be taken to correct these hazards at the emergency scene.

Knowledge Check Choose the best answer for the question.

4-5. Which member of the ICS Command Staff is responsible for developing and releasing information about the incident to the news media, incident personnel, and other appropriate agencies and organizations?