What does effective risk management in incidents prioritize?

Effective risk management in incidents prioritizes safe outcomes because the primary goal in any situation, particularly in emergency response and incident management, is to ensure the safety of individuals involved, including firefighters, bystanders, and the community at large. Focusing on safe outcomes means assessing potential risks, identifying hazards, and implementing strategies to mitigate those risks effectively.

In risk management, safety protocols, and procedures are put in place to protect lives and prevent further injury or property damage. While aspects such as health of the community, cost efficiency, and speed of response are certainly important considerations in incident management, they are secondary to the overarching need to achieve safety. If safety is compromised, none of the other factors can be effectively managed or optimized. Therefore, prioritizing safe outcomes is essential in effective risk management during incidents.