What can happen if an Incident Commander fails to delegate properly at a major incident?

When an Incident Commander fails to delegate properly at a major incident, the span of control can be exceeded. The concept of span of control refers to the number of individuals or resources that one supervisor can effectively manage. When an Incident Commander attempts to manage too many tasks or individuals without delegation, it can lead to a situation where they are overwhelmed, which compromises their ability to effectively oversee the incident response.

This lack of delegation can result in confusion, delays in decision-making, and a decreased ability to respond to the dynamic needs of the incident. As responsibilities pile up, the quality of leadership diminishes, which can hinder the overall effectiveness of the incident management. Thus, maintaining an appropriate span of control through effective delegation is crucial to ensure operations run smoothly and efficiently during major incidents.