1. Maryland Fire and Rescue Institute
Drill of the Month
Safety Officer’s Role
Maryland Fire and Rescue Institute

2. Student Performance Objective
At the conclusion of this session, the firefighter, operating as a safety officer will be able to list the general duties of the incident scene safety officer, identify scene safety concerns, fire behavior considerations, special operations incidents, the role of the safety officer prior to an incident, during an incident and after the incident. .
Drill of the Month - 1
Maryland Fire and Rescue Institute

3. Overview Introduction Scene Safety considerations Special operations
Role prior to the incident
Role during the incident
Challenges for the Safety Officer
Role following the incident
Drill of the Month - 2
Maryland Fire and Rescue Institute

4. Introduction Incident commander has ultimate responsibility.
Larger/Complex incidents
Safety responsibility is broad
Delegation is essential
NFPA 1521 defines the Safety Officer’s role.
Incident Safety Officer, and
Health and Safety Office
More FF’s injured and killed on scene.
Having a safety officer will reduce injury and death
Drill of the Month - 3
Maryland Fire and Rescue Institute

5. Introduction Other duties of the Safety Officer:
Scene rehabilitation initiated/sustained
Monitor conditions, hazards and risks
Personnel accountability
Ensure understanding of the IAP
Risk assessment
Identify safety/collapse/hot zones
Monitor vehicle traffic
Monitor radio communications
Identify need for additional Safety Officers
Evaluate aircraft operations
Drill of the Month - 4
Maryland Fire and Rescue Institute

6. Introduction Effectiveness as a Safety Officer requires: Support, and
Confidence of the IC
Safety Officer must posses:
Creditability
Interpersonal skills
Mutual respect
Drill of the Month - 5
Maryland Fire and Rescue Institute

7. Scene Safety Considerations
SO must be knowledgeable:
Incident scene operations.
Potential hazards for all types of incidents
IMS must be employed.
SO must function within the IMS.
Drill of the Month - 6
Maryland Fire and Rescue Institute

8. Scene Safety Considerations
Special knowledge the SO should possess:
Firefighting strategy and tactics
Building construction
Fire behavior and Fire loads
Forcible entry
Ventilation
Evacuation procedures
SCBA and PPE usage
Climatic conditions
Ladder operations
Establishing control zones
Drill of the Month - 7
Maryland Fire and Rescue Institute

9. Scene Safety Considerations
Firefighting strategy and tactics:
All types of incidents
Placement of apparatus
Use of supply and attack lines
Ventilation procedures
Rescue operations
Forcible entry procedures
Drill of the Month - 8
Maryland Fire and Rescue Institute

10. Scene Safety Considerations
Building construction:
Good understanding of building design
Risk evaluation
Hazard recognition ability
Light weight wood construction
Truss weaknesses
Wall collapse
Balloon frame construction
Predict collapse scenarios
Drill of the Month - 9
Maryland Fire and Rescue Institute

11. Scene Safety Considerations
Fire behavior:
Principals of heat transfer
Backdraft/flashover
Forms of fuel classification
Properties of fuel
Physical science of fire
Drill of the Month - 10
Maryland Fire and Rescue Institute

12. Scene Safety Considerations
Fire loads:
Maximum heat production
Target hazards and fire load potential
Knowledge aids operation
Forcible entry:
Understand techniques
Understand hazards
Drill of the Month - 11
Maryland Fire and Rescue Institute

13. Scene Safety Considerations
Ventilation:
Understand ventilation principals
Effects of improper ventilation
Understand negative and positive Ventilation
Evacuation procedures:
Essential at all types of incidents
Understand policy:
Ordering an evacuation
Notifying and using personnel effectively
Establishing a relocation area
Drill of the Month - 12
Maryland Fire and Rescue Institute

14. Scene Safety Considerations
SCBA and PPE:
Understand standards and policy
Enforce use as appropriate
Climatic conditions:
Weather can have an adverse effect
Maintain constant awareness
Adverse conditions include:
Extreme temperature and humidity
Freezing rain and snow
High wind
Drill of the Month - 13
Maryland Fire and Rescue Institute

15. Scene Safety Considerations
Ladder operations:
Understand ground and aerial ladders
Ensure sufficient ground ladders are in place
Establishing Control zones:
Allow for personnel accountability
Collapse zone based on:
Building height and
Construction type
Control zones aid in scene management
Drill of the Month - 14
Maryland Fire and Rescue Institute

16. Special Operations Type of incidents: Hazardous materials
Emergency medical and mass casualty
Technical rescues
Confined space
Structural collapse
High angle
extrication
Government regulations and standards:
OSHA/MOSH
NFPA
Drill of the Month - 15
Maryland Fire and Rescue Institute

17. Role of SO Prior to the Incident
Identify high hazard and risk locations
Review and develop pre-incident plans
Review and develop standard operating procedures
Ensure adoption and implementation of the IMS
Conduct research and development relating to:
firefighting strategy and tactics
Safety best management practices
Other technologies
Drill of the Month - 16
Maryland Fire and Rescue Institute

18. Role of the Safety Officer at an Incident
Coordinate with the IC, understand the IAP
Conduct incident safety size-up
Report size-up information to the IC
Establish control zones
Establish rapid intervention teams
Provide advice on challenging conditions
Monitor communications
Monitor vehicle traffic
Continually assess risks
Drill of the Month - 17
Maryland Fire and Rescue Institute

19. Challenges for the Safety Officer
Recognition of how conditions change
Continual risk assessment at benchmark operations:
Primary search completed
Fire knocked down
Patient extrication complete
Hazardous materials spill contained
Manage the risk
Effectively use interpersonal skills
Enforce accountability
Effectively support operations
Plan for additional resources
Drill of the Month - 18
Maryland Fire and Rescue Institute

20. Role of the Safety Officer after the Incident
Post incident analysis and reports
Injury or death reports
Identification of corrective action for future incidents:
Violations of department SOP’s
Poorly defined procedures
Unforeseen conditions
Training deficiencies
Drill of the Month - 19
Maryland Fire and Rescue Institute

21. Student Performance Objective
At the conclusion of this session, the firefighter, operating as a safety officer will be able to list the general duties of the incident scene safety officer, identify scene safety concerns, fire behavior considerations, special operations incidents, the role of the safety officer prior to an incident, during an incident and after the incident. .
Drill of the Month - 20
Maryland Fire and Rescue Institute

22. Overview Introduction Scene Safety considerations Special operations
Role prior to the incident
Role during the incident
Challenges for the Safety Officer
Role following the incident
Drill of the Month - 21
Maryland Fire and Rescue Institute