By comparing the department's incident action plans to accepted risk management practices, what can the ISO achieve?

By comparing the department's incident action plans to accepted risk management practices, the Incident Safety Officer (ISO) can build a foundation for risk decision-making. This process allows the ISO to ensure that all actions taken during an incident are informed by a thorough understanding of the risks involved, rather than relying solely on intuition or past experiences.

The integration of accepted risk management practices into incident action plans enhances the decision-making process by providing a structured framework. This framework includes identifying potential hazards, assessing the risks associated with those hazards, and implementing controls to mitigate those risks. As the ISO aligns these practices with the incident action plans, it supports a proactive approach to safety, ensuring that decisions are based on sound risk management principles.

Establishing this foundation aids in formulating strategies that prioritize safety and efficiency during operations. It also serves as a critical tool in communicating risk-related information to all involved personnel, fostering a shared understanding of safety priorities and the reasoning behind selected courses of action.

In contrast, while highlighting funding shortfalls, identifying program shortfalls, or considering alternatives to procedures all have their place in operational assessments, they do not directly address the overarching goal of instituting a robust risk management framework that informs decision-making during incidents.