An incident is any event that requires emergency response to protect life or property. OSHA’s HAZWOPER standard requires all organizations that handle hazardous materials to use the Incident Command System (ICS). The ICS is a component of the National Incident Management System (NIMS) that provides a standard approach for incident management. ICS allows for the integration of facilities, equipment, personnel, procedures, and communication systems within a common organizational structure. ICS enables a coordinated response among various agencies, both public and private, and it establishes common processes for planning and managing resources. This module describes all aspects of the incident command system.

• Describe the Incident Command System (ICS) • Describe the ICS organization structure • Explain the roles and responsibilities of each position established by the incident command system • Define key ICS terms • Describe the purpose of an Incident Action Plan • List the priorities for determining incident objectives • Identify and describe the five types of incidents as defined by the ICS • Describe the role of executives and senior officials during incident response • Describe the process for transferring command • Describe the purpose of unified and area commands and when they are applied