The JCAHO Standard EC.1.1 requires a hospital’s safety management plan to designate
“a qualified individual(s) to oversee development, implementation, and monitoring of
safety management.” To carry out these responsibilities, most hospitals formally designate
an individual to serve as safety officer. Standard EC.1.1 also mandates an “individual(
s) to intervene whenever conditions pose an immediate threat to life or health or
threaten damage to equipment or buildings.” This authority is typically granted at least
one member of the hospital staff, including the safety officer.