Safety Officer Course in Grand Island

    Last week I completed a Safety Officer Course (SOFR) that is designed for being a Safety Officer within a Type 3 Incident Management Team. These teams are deployed throughout the state, and to other major disasters in the United States, to assist an Incident Command Team who is overwhelmed with limited resources or for incidents that will span days. For more than 20 years I have been involved with safety, both for private and public industry. This class was probably one of the hardest classes I’ve taken but was enjoyable at the same time as it seems to fit in my wheelhouse. This course is mandatory as part of fulfilling an open task book that I have started. You have 3 years to complete your task book to become a fully certified Safety Officer. The Nebraska Emergency Management Agency has encouraged Planning Exercise and Training Regions within the State of Nebraska to start developing a Type 3 Incident Management Team. Those attending this course were Emergency Managers from Nebraska, The Nebraska Emergency Management Agency, Aurora Fire Department, The United States Coast Guard, The United States Army, and a Healthcare Facility in Rapid City, South Dakota.