b'STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE NINE All public safety and allied agencies should use the National Incident Management System. The Incident Command System (ICS) was developed in the early 1970s. ICS has proven to be mission critical to efficiently, effectively, and safely resolve emergency and non-emergency events. Many fire and emergency services organizations have embraced the use and application of ICS. Some public safety agencies (e.g., public health, transportation, and law enforcement) have failed to fully implement ICS. There is an overwhelming need for public safety organizations to utilize all components of the Incident Command System, which includes the proper application of the unified command process.Background The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) continues to point out ICS failures that contribute to fire fighter line of duty deaths. Without the application of an effective command and control system, fire fighter line of duty deaths are predictable. All public safety and allied agencies need to be strongly encouraged or required to use the incident command system.There is an overwhelming need to incorporate a critical decision-making process at all incidents. The application of crew resource management (CRM), developed by the U.S. Aviation Industry, has proven to ensure the best decision is made the first time, and every time.Failure to regionalize fire and emergency services departments continues to be a barrier to successful efficient, effective, and safe operations.16'