Who is responsible for establishing a safety program?

• A. Safety Officer
• B. Commanding Officer
• C. Unit Commander
• D. Maintenance Supervisor

Answer: (B)

The key idea is that the person at the top of the unit’s chain of command has the authority and responsibility to set the safety program. The Commanding Officer is the one who establishes safety policy, allocates resources to implement it, and holds accountability for its effectiveness. The Safety Officer then acts as the expert adviser who develops procedures, conducts training, performs risk assessments, and monitors compliance under the CO’s direction. A Maintenance Supervisor focuses on carrying out safe maintenance tasks, not on creating the overall program. So the Commanding Officer is the best answer because ultimate policy creation and program establishment sit with the unit’s commanding authority.