What is the first action the incident safety officer should perform upon arrival at an incident scene?

The first action the incident safety officer should perform upon arrival at an incident scene is to conduct a 360-degree evaluation. This comprehensive assessment allows the safety officer to understand the scene's overall conditions, identifying potential hazards, the layout of the area, and the presence of any risks to personnel involved in the incident. This evaluation is critical for making informed decisions about safety measures and prioritizing actions to protect responders and victims alike.

By surveying the entire scene, the safety officer can gather vital information regarding the number of patients, the nature of the incident, the environmental conditions, and any structural concerns. This situational awareness is essential for effective incident management and helps ensure that subsequent actions, such as initiating rescue operations or communicating with team members, are based on a complete understanding of the environment and potential hazards.