Safety Officer Responsibilities

COMMON RESPONSIBILITIES
a. Receive assignment, notification, reporting location, reporting time, and travel instructions from your
home agency.

b. Upon arrival at the incident, check in at designated check-in locations. Check-in locations may be
found at: Incident Command Post, Base or Camps, Staging Areas, Helibases, Division Supervisors (for
direct line assignments).

c. Agency representatives from assisting or cooperating agencies report to Liaison Officer at the
Command Post after checking in.

d. All radio communications to Incident Communications Center will be addressed: "(Incident Name)
Communications".

e. Use clear text and ICS terminology (no codes) in all radio transmissions.

f. Receive briefing from immediate supervisor.

g. Acquire work materials.

h. Organize, assign, and brief subordinates.

i. Complete forms and reports required of the assigned position and send material through supervisor to
Documentation Unit.

i. Ensure continuity using in/out briefings.

j. Respond to demobilization orders.

k. Brief subordinates regarding demobilization.

1. The Safety Officer is responsible for monitoring and assessing hazardous and unsafe situations.
2. Developing measures to assure personnel safety.
3. Correct unsafe acts or conditions through the regular line of authority.
4. May exercise emergency authority to prevent or stop unsafe acts when immediate action is
required.
5. The Safety Officer maintains awareness of active and developing situations.
6. Ensures there are safety messages in each Incident Action Plan.
7. Participate in planning meetings to identify any health and safety concerns inherent in the
operations daily work-plan.
8. Review the Incident Action Plan for safety implications.
9. Investigate accidents that have occurred within incident areas.
10. Ensure preparation and implementation of Site Safety and Health Plan (SSHP).
11. Inspects the site to ensure it is a hazard-free environment.
12. Conducts toolbox meetings.
13. A HSE Officer is part of the project safety council and leads all efforts to enhance safety.
14. The safety officer reviews and approves all subcontractors safety plans.
 15. Verifies that injury logs and reports are completed and submitted to related government agencies.
16. Verifies that all tools and equipment are adequate and safe for use.
17. Promotes safe practices at the job site.
18. Enforces safety guidelines.
19. Trains and carries out drills and exercises on how to manage emergency situations.
20. Conducts investigations of all accidents and near-misses.
21. Reports to concerned authorities as requested or mandated by regulations.
22. Conducts job hazard analysis.
23. Establishes safety standards and policies as needed.
24. Watches out for the safety of all workers and works to protect them from entering hazardous
situations.
25. Responds to employees’ safety concerns.
26. Coordinates registration and removal of hazardous waste.
27. Serves as the link between state and local agencies and contractors.
28. Receives reports from and responds to orders issued by Department of Labor.
29. Arranges for OSHA mandated testing and/or evaluations of the workplace by external
agencies/consultants.
30. Support the development of OHS policies and programs.
31. Advise and instruct on various safety-related topics (noise levels, use of machinery etc.).
32. Conduct risk assessment and enforce preventative measures.
33. Review existing policies and measures and update according to legislation.
34. Initiate and organize OHS training of employees and executives.
35. Inspect premises and the work of personnel to identify issues or non-conformity (e.g. not using
protective equipment)
36. Oversee installations, maintenance, disposal of substances etc.
37. Stop any unsafe acts or processes that seem dangerous or unhealthy
38. Record and investigate incidents to determine causes and handle worker’s compensation claims
39. Prepare reports on occurrences and provide statistical information to upper management.
40. Carry out PTW Monitoring and review

SPECIFIC RESPONSIBILITIES

The Safety Officer is responsible for monitoring and assessing hazardous and unsafe situations and
developing measures to assure personnel safety.

The Safety Officer will correct unsafe acts or conditions through the regular line of authority, although the
Safety Officer may exercise emergency authority to prevent or stop unsafe acts when immediate
action is required.

The Safety Officer maintains awareness of active and developing situations.

The Safety Officer ensures the Site Safety and Health Plan is prepared and implemented.

The Safety Officer ensures there are safety messages in each Incident Action Plan.

Only one Safety Officer will be assigned for each incident, including incidents operating under Unified
Command and multi-jurisdiction incidents. The Safety Officer may have assistants, as necessary, and the
assistants may also represent assisting agencies or jurisdictions.
a. During initial response, document the hazard analysis process, hazard identification, exposure
assessment and controls.

b. Participate in planning meetings to identify any health and safety concerns inherent in the operations
daily workplan.

c. Review the Incident Action Plan for safety implications.

d. Exercise emergency authority to prevent or stop unsafe acts.

e. Investigate accidents that have occurred within incident areas.

f. Ensure preparation and implementation of Site Safety and Health Plan (SSHP)

g. Assign assistants and manage the incident safety organization.

h. Review and approve the Medical Plan (ICS 206). SAFETY

 Maintain Unit/Activity Log (ICS 214).

Assistant Safety Officer

Site Security Site Characterization Site Safety Plan Site Safety

&Monitoring Enforcement

Team:
Team:

Team: Team:

Team: Team:

FUNCTIONS OF THE SAFETY STAFF

Site Safety Officer Assistant:

a. Provide assistance to the Safety Officer. Ensure all Safety functions continue when the Safety Officer
is attending meetings.

Site Characterization and Monitoring:

a. Initial on scene hazard assessment of the incident.

1. Deploy on scene immediately and report back to Safety Officer

b. Conduct air monitoring and sampling of spilled oil on scene.

c. Provide continuous air monitoring if necessary.

d. Ensure workers are safely monitored by use of passive dosimeters.

e. Provide heat or cold stress monitoring, using WBGT or other measuring device.

f. Provide on scene fatigue monitoring for work-rest regimen recommendations.

Site Safety Plan

a. Draft initial emergency response site safety plan. Ensure copies get distributed as soon as possible to
staging areas and field personnel.

b. Receive reports from Site Safety Enforcement Assistant and incorporate changes into the site safety
plan.

c. Ensure site safety plan is completed in time to be incorporated into Incident Action Plan.

d. Provide safety messages for ICS form204, prior to the planning meeting. If site safety plan is
completed, consider inserting: “All personnel shall review site safety plan prior to commencement of
operations.”

e. Review Medical Plan 206 and forward to the Safety Officer for signature.

f. Review Incident Action Plan. Ensure plan provisions are in compliance with 29 CFR 1910.120.
Review HAZWOPER Compliance Checklist to ensure requirements met.

Site Safety Enforcement:

a. Enforce site safety plan on scene.

b. Use site safety enforcement log and ensure completion in time for updating new site safety plan for
next operational period.

c. Terminate all imminently dangerous operations immediately. For other non-time critical safety
hazards contact the Safety Officer for termination guidance.

d. Attend morning field safety briefings at Staging Areas and assembly points to ensure site safety plan
was covered.

e. Keep workers, supervisors and the Safety Officer informed often.