If you are planning on working in occupational safety or emergency management, you will need to learn more about what the Incident Command System (ICS) is and why it is important. The ICS was first developed in the 1970’s to deal with serious problems in communications during natural disaster responses. Now, the system has become standardized and the structure itself has improved. Read on and learn more about the ICS and how new technology and integration has made it possible for responders and emergency managers to communicate across the nation on multiple incidents, regardless of the jurisdiction.
The Origin of the Incident Command System
When the ICS was developed, it was designed to deal with the complexities associated with commanding, controlling, and coordinating the emergency response to wildfires that quickly move across California. The system was meant to tackle several different problems that caused slow response and endangered lives. Some of the problems that the system was meant to address included:
- Too many responders reporting to a single supervisor
- Lack of accurate and reliable information on incidents
- Different structures for response throughout different federal organizations
- Incompatible communications across the platforms
- Blurred lines of authority leading to response delays and confusion
- Difficulty coordinating the planning among multiple agencies
- Differences in the terminology used in different agencies
How Did the ICS Become a National System?
While the idea of the system was developed in the 70’s, it was not until 1980 that officials with the Federal government decided that this was something that needed to be implemented on a national level. This is when ICS was transitioned into the National Interagency Incident Management System. Now, the ICS is actually a program called the NIIMS. It is the universal response management system used among all federal agencies and has made a difference in the following operations throughout emergency management: Command, Operations, Planning, Finance, Administration and Logistics.
Who is Responsible for Managing the Management System?
While the ICS technology has continued to advance over 4 decades of use, software systems, no matter how advanced, cannot monitor themselves. This is why there is a need for an Incident Commander or a Unified Command who will record and then monitor all incident operations. If you want to work within the emergency management platform, you may be interested in being in charge of incident operations at the scene of a disaster.
Those who hold this title will establish priorities as to who needs treated, stabilize the scene by using resources efficiently, determine objectives, write an incident action plan, and take the proper health measures to ensure life safety. Knowing how to use the ICS is crucial when you hold a title with this level of responsibility.
While there have been major tweaks to the ICS over time, the concept of unifying command and control operations still remains the same. The system makes it possible for organizations in emergency management to cope with incidents by using a common structure and common terminology. It also provides the administrative support agencies need without using a huge amount of the budget. As you can see, the Incident Command System proves that coordination and integration are an important priority in disaster preparedness and response.