Key Personnel/Identification of Roles and Responsibilities
Overview of Operation
Upon APHIS’s assignment of deployment, an Incident Commander
will be named. The Incident Commander (IC) or other(s) designated by
the IC will name a Safety Officer (SO).
While the IC has responsibility for the total incident, the SO
is responsible for assuring the health and safety of the responders
(whether APHIS employees, temporary employees, or contractors). The
SO is assigned to oversee this responsibility for the IC and is the
only person other than the IC who can stop an operation (in order to
correct safety or health hazards).
The SO will establish safe work procedures, provide communication
pertaining to safety and health matters, inspect and assure safe work
procedures are followed, provide training as needed, provide reports
as needed, and brief the IC as to the status of health and safety on
the deployment.
