FIRE DEPARTMENT INCIDENT SAFETY OFFICER EXAM WITH
COMPLETE QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS LATEST UPDATE
2025/2026!!BRAND NEW
What is the difference between an ISO and an HSO - CORRECT ANSWER-ISO:
Incident Safety Officer is the person assigned to fill the command staff position
responsible for monitoring and assessing safety hazards or unsafe situations and
for developing measures for ensuring personnel safety at the scene of an
incident. HSO: Health and Safety Officer- the person assigned and authorized by
the fire chief as the manager of the fire department's safety and health program
In general terms, explain the history of today's safety officer in the industrial
world as well as in the fire service - CORRECT ANSWER-In th industrial world,
safety officers evolved out of the injury history of world war i and ii. as people
were hurt in support operations. Orgnaized labor and insurance industry
representatives pushed for more safety training during and after world war i and
ii. In the fire service, early wall watchers were used around the turn of the
century. In the 70s, the FIRESCOPE effort in California added the Safety Officer
position. In the 80s, NFPA 1500 and 1501 were created that outlined the use of
safety officers.
List and discuss the NFPA standards related to the incident safety officer -
CORRECT ANSWER-NFPA 1500 outlines a Fire Department Safety and Health
Program that includes safety officers. NFPA 1521 is the Safety Officer Standard
that outlines duties, authorities, and qualifications
1
,What was the significance of the William Stieger ACt - CORRECT ANSWER-It
created the Occupational Safety and Health Administration OSHA. The law gives
equal rights and responsibility to employers and employees with respect to safe
working conditions.
How are the monetary costs associated with firefighter injuries and deaths paid
for - CORRECT ANSWER-The costs can be tied to the fire departments workers
compensation rates which reflect loss history. Worker compensation programs
are not free: they are costly and the cost is based on history: the number of
claims and the cost of the claims. If a firefighter is injured on the job, the
ramifications may be felt for many years. Obviously, the more serious the injury
is, the longer the impact is felt.
Discuss current ff injury and death trends and the need for ISO response. -
CORRECT ANSWER-Combine ff death and injury numbers with a national trend
of fewer fires, and one can hypothesize that the effort to reduce ff injuries may
not be as effective as it could be. It is easy to see that the appointment of an
ISO, more often than not, seems prudent. Other programs, such as ff wellness
and incident management systems, do reduce injury and death potential over
time, but the use of an ISO can start to reduce these threat potentials today
List the 3 elements tha affect workplace safety. - CORRECT ANSWER-Procedures,
equipment and personnel
Explain the difference between the formal and informal processes - CORRECT
ANSWER-Formal: In writing
Informal: Part of a departments routine, but not in writing
2
, Describe four qualities of a well written procedure - CORRECT ANSWER-Several
qualitities of a well written procedure: simple language, clear direction, tested
technique, easy interpretation, applicability to many scenarios, and specific only
on critical or life endangering points.
List and describe the external influences that can affect safety equipment design
and purchase - CORRECT ANSWER-OSHA regulations (CFRs)
NFPA standards
NIOSH, ANSI, and UL listings
List and briefly describe the three factors that influence a persons ability to act
safely - CORRECT ANSWER-Training: Good program, priority on safety subjects
Health: addressing physical and mental health
Attitude: Departments safety culture, injury and death history, and the example
set by officers
Define risk management - CORRECT ANSWER-Risk management is the process of
minimizing the chance, degree, or probability of damage, loss, or injury
List and explain the five steps of classic risk management - CORRECT ANSWER-1:
Hazard ID. Actively find hazards.
2: Hazard Eval. Assigning a relative importance using the anticipated frequency
and severity of the hazard
3: Hazard prioritization. Assigning low, moderate and high ratings for frequency
and severity. High frequency/ high severity hazards get first priority
4: Hazard Control. Using control countermeasure to address the hazard
3
COMPLETE QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS LATEST UPDATE
2025/2026!!BRAND NEW
What is the difference between an ISO and an HSO - CORRECT ANSWER-ISO:
Incident Safety Officer is the person assigned to fill the command staff position
responsible for monitoring and assessing safety hazards or unsafe situations and
for developing measures for ensuring personnel safety at the scene of an
incident. HSO: Health and Safety Officer- the person assigned and authorized by
the fire chief as the manager of the fire department's safety and health program
In general terms, explain the history of today's safety officer in the industrial
world as well as in the fire service - CORRECT ANSWER-In th industrial world,
safety officers evolved out of the injury history of world war i and ii. as people
were hurt in support operations. Orgnaized labor and insurance industry
representatives pushed for more safety training during and after world war i and
ii. In the fire service, early wall watchers were used around the turn of the
century. In the 70s, the FIRESCOPE effort in California added the Safety Officer
position. In the 80s, NFPA 1500 and 1501 were created that outlined the use of
safety officers.
List and discuss the NFPA standards related to the incident safety officer -
CORRECT ANSWER-NFPA 1500 outlines a Fire Department Safety and Health
Program that includes safety officers. NFPA 1521 is the Safety Officer Standard
that outlines duties, authorities, and qualifications
1
,What was the significance of the William Stieger ACt - CORRECT ANSWER-It
created the Occupational Safety and Health Administration OSHA. The law gives
equal rights and responsibility to employers and employees with respect to safe
working conditions.
How are the monetary costs associated with firefighter injuries and deaths paid
for - CORRECT ANSWER-The costs can be tied to the fire departments workers
compensation rates which reflect loss history. Worker compensation programs
are not free: they are costly and the cost is based on history: the number of
claims and the cost of the claims. If a firefighter is injured on the job, the
ramifications may be felt for many years. Obviously, the more serious the injury
is, the longer the impact is felt.
Discuss current ff injury and death trends and the need for ISO response. -
CORRECT ANSWER-Combine ff death and injury numbers with a national trend
of fewer fires, and one can hypothesize that the effort to reduce ff injuries may
not be as effective as it could be. It is easy to see that the appointment of an
ISO, more often than not, seems prudent. Other programs, such as ff wellness
and incident management systems, do reduce injury and death potential over
time, but the use of an ISO can start to reduce these threat potentials today
List the 3 elements tha affect workplace safety. - CORRECT ANSWER-Procedures,
equipment and personnel
Explain the difference between the formal and informal processes - CORRECT
ANSWER-Formal: In writing
Informal: Part of a departments routine, but not in writing
2
, Describe four qualities of a well written procedure - CORRECT ANSWER-Several
qualitities of a well written procedure: simple language, clear direction, tested
technique, easy interpretation, applicability to many scenarios, and specific only
on critical or life endangering points.
List and describe the external influences that can affect safety equipment design
and purchase - CORRECT ANSWER-OSHA regulations (CFRs)
NFPA standards
NIOSH, ANSI, and UL listings
List and briefly describe the three factors that influence a persons ability to act
safely - CORRECT ANSWER-Training: Good program, priority on safety subjects
Health: addressing physical and mental health
Attitude: Departments safety culture, injury and death history, and the example
set by officers
Define risk management - CORRECT ANSWER-Risk management is the process of
minimizing the chance, degree, or probability of damage, loss, or injury
List and explain the five steps of classic risk management - CORRECT ANSWER-1:
Hazard ID. Actively find hazards.
2: Hazard Eval. Assigning a relative importance using the anticipated frequency
and severity of the hazard
3: Hazard prioritization. Assigning low, moderate and high ratings for frequency
and severity. High frequency/ high severity hazards get first priority
4: Hazard Control. Using control countermeasure to address the hazard
3
