What is the role of the Incident Commander in risk management?

• A. To manage only resource purchasing and logistics.
• B. To assess hazards, implement risk controls, and oversee safe operations and safety decisions.
• C. To supervise media relations during incidents.
• D. To perform financial accounting for the incident.

Answer: (B)

The Incident Commander is responsible for the overall risk management of the incident. This means continually identifying hazards, assessing the level of risk, and making call on risk controls to keep people safe while still achieving objectives. The IC oversees safe operations and safety decisions, ensuring that safety priorities guide tactics, and works with the Safety Officer to monitor evolving risks and adjust actions as needed. While other functions handle tasks like resource purchasing or public information, they do not carry the IC’s primary responsibility for assessing risk and authorizing safety measures across the incident.