Highway Incident Safety

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Highway Incident Safety
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Introduction

• Objectives
• To increase awareness regarding highway scene
  safety and the methods available to control those
  safety hazards, in general.
• To advise how this information is applicable to
  Titusville Fire Emergency Services Department
• http//www.titusville.com/de
  pts/fire/

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Run Data

• Each year Titusville Fire Emergency Services
  runs (xxx) calls, (yy) for MVC or mutual aid on
  major highway.
• Any call can expose personnel to a traffic hazard.

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National Statistics
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Case Studies

• Handout Traffic Hazards to Fire Fighters While
  Working Along Roadways
• DHHS (NIOSH) Publication No. 2001.143
• (2) Cases with recommendations

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State Statutes

• Floridas Move Over Law (Section 316.126, F.S.)
• On interstate highways or other highways with two
  or more lanes
• On a two-lane roadway

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National Standards / Recommendations

• NFPA 1451 Standard for a Fire Service Vehicle
  Operations Training Program 2002 Edition 
• 8.1.4.1 Fire service vehicles shall be utilized
  as a shield from oncoming traffic wherever
  possible. 
• 8.1.4.2 Where acting as a shield, fire service
  vehicle warning lights shall remain on, and
  fluorescent and retroreflective warning devices
  such as traffic cones, illuminated warning
  devices such as highway flares, or other warning
  devices shall be used to warn oncoming traffic of
  the emergency operations and the hazards to
  members operating at the incident. 

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National Standards / Recommendations

• NFPA 1500 Standard on Fire Department
  Occupational Safety and Health Program 2002
  Edition 
• 8.4.25 When members are operating at an emergency
  incident and their assignment places them in
  potential conflict with motor vehicle traffic,
  they shall wear a garment with fluorescent and
  retro-reflective material. 
• 8.4.26 Apparatus shall be utilized as a shield
  from oncoming traffic wherever possible. 

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National Standards / Recommendations

• NFPA 1500 Standard on Fire Department
  Occupational Safety and Health Program 2002
  Edition  (cont)
• 8.4.27  When acting as a shield, apparatus
  warning lights shall remain on, if appropriate.
  Fluorescent and retro-reflective warning devices
  such as traffic cones (with DOT-approved
  retro-reflective collars) and DOT-approved
  retro-reflective signs stating Emergency Scene
  (with adjustable directional arrows) and
  illuminated warning devices such as highway
  flares and/or other appropriate warning devices
  shall be used to warn oncoming traffic of the
  emergency operations and the hazards to members
  operating at the incident. 

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Typical DOT Recommendations

• Proper cone placement is generally impractical
  for Fire Service implementation on an emergency
  scene.
• Too many cones needed
• Storage issues

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Cone Placement
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Web LinksFor Highway Work Zone Information

• For more information, go to http//www.odot.state
  .or.us/traffic/pdf/work_zone/tcshstwz(98revised).p
  df
• www.dot.state.fl.us/trafficoperations/muts/muts.ht
  m
• www.mutcd.fhwa.dot.gov/pdfs/2003/pdf-index.htm

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DEPARTMENT POLICY/GUIDELINES

• Titusville Fire Emergency Services Department
  Guidelines
• Vehicle Accident Response
• Safe Vehicle Placement/Traffic
• Personnel Safety Vests

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DEPARTMENT POLICY/GUIDELINES

• Vehicle Accident Response
• Officer shall consider traffic crowd control,
  survey scene, establish Command, establish
  action circle, ensure PPE.
• Engine Co Place apparatus to protect responders
  from traffic and do not impede traffic, when
  possible.
• Scene Coordination IC shall coordinate with law
  enforcement about traffic flow scene safety.

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DEPARTMENT POLICY/GUIDELINES

• Safe Vehicle Placement/Traffic
• Never trust the traffic.
• Wear PPE reflective vests.
• Reduce motorist vision impairment
• Use cones.

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DEPARTMENT POLICY/GUIDELINES

• Safe Vehicle Placement/Traffic (cont)
• At night headlights off reduce emergency
  lights to minimum (yellow emergency flashers)
• Apparatus placement 45 degrees away from curb,
  when possible.

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DEPARTMENT POLICY/GUIDELINES

• Personnel Safety Vests
• Shall always be worn where vehicle traffic is
  anticipated or when personal visibility is
  compromised.
• Shall be worn under turnout coat for MVC or other
  non-fire event.

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General Recommendations for Highway Incident
Safety

• There Is No Substitute For Training
• Multi-Agency Coordination and Communications Are
  A Must
• Identify Areas of Known High Incident Rates
• Limit Your ExposureLimit Your Time
• Give Traffic Plenty of Warning

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General Recommendations for Highway Incident
Safety

• Protect the Scene With Apparatus
• Always Work Away From The Traffic
• Be Prepared To Shut Down The Roadway
• Be Seen and Not Hurt Wear Proper PPE
• Maintain Accountability

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Safety Checklist

• Handout Traffic Control Safety
  Checklist/Worksheet
• VFIS document C10213 (Rev. 4/03)
• Sample SOP
• Source http//www.respondersafety.com/sops.html

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Summary

• Increased awareness regarding highway scene
  safety.
• Methods available to control safety hazards.
• Provided information about local, state, federal
  and fire service guidelines regarding highway
  incident safety.
• Titusville Fire Emergency Services Department
  guidelines validated.

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Bibliography

• National Fire Protection Association
• National Institute For Occupational Safety and
  Health (NIOSH) Publication No. 2001.143
• VFIS Insurance http//www.vfis.com/
• www.respondersafety.com
• Oregon Department of Transportation

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BCC Course Design Team Members

• Neil Frey, Brevard County Fire Rescue  
  sapperinfl_at_aol.com
• Randy Hoog, Canaveral Fire Rescue  
  r_hoog_at_code3cowboys.com
• Emily Hux, Hux Racing   huxeric_at_hotmail.com
• Jack Lively, Brevard County Fire Rescue 
  jml127_at_aol.com
• Al Studt, Canaveral Fire Rescue  
  astudt_at_ccvfd.org 
• June 15, 2004