Internertional Association for Healthcare Security and Safety (IAHSS) Basic Officer Certification Practice Exam

Which of the following is NOT a feature of the Incident Command System?

1. Common terminology

2. Rigid, fixed use of personnel

3. Span of control abilities

4. Unity of command

The correct answer is: Rigid, fixed use of personnel

The Incident Command System (ICS) is designed to provide a standardized approach to the command, control, and coordination of emergency response. One of its key principles is flexibility, which allows the system to adapt to the needs of the situation and ensure effective resource management. The concept of rigid, fixed use of personnel is contradictory to the nature of ICS, which seeks to deploy resources dynamically and efficiently based on the evolving circumstances of an incident. ICS promotes a system where personnel can be assigned to tasks based on competencies and situational demands rather than being locked into specific roles regardless of the incident’s needs. In contrast, common terminology, span of control abilities, and unity of command are all essential features of ICS. Common terminology facilitates effective communication across different organizations and responders, while span of control refers to the number of individuals that one supervisor can effectively manage, typically recommended to be between three to seven. Unity of command ensures that each individual reports to one designated supervisor, which helps maintain clarity in the chain of command and accountability during an emergency response.