Resource Road Radio Use Pilot Project

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Resource Road Radio Use Pilot Project

• March 2008

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BACKGROUND

• IMPROPER/INCORRECT USE OF 2-WAY RADIOS A KEY
  FACTOR IN SERIOUS INJURIES AND POSSIBLE FOREST
  ROAD DEATHS
• PROVINCIAL WORKING GROUP FORMED IN 2006 TO
  ADDRESS THE PROBLEM

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• crashes and close calls due to lack of
  communication or miscommunication
• inconsistencies in calling procedures, signage,
  area frequencies
• too many channel changes, especially in multiple
  user situations (other industries, more than one
  mill or contractor, etc)
• mobility of trucks moving around the province,
  working in different areas because of weather and
  seasonal changes, truck shortages, new BCTS
  reallocation areas, longer hauls, 2 way hauls,
  mountain pine beetle, dimension logs, specialized
  mills....

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SPECIFIC ISSUES

• Overlaps of radio traffic from other operations
  or adjacent drainages
• More than one radio frequency in use on a road.
• Too many channel changes, especially in multiple
  user situations (other industries, more than one
  mill or contractor, etc)
• One time or infrequent users have no access to
  radio frequencies or radio protocol
• Holder of radio frequency, reluctant to provide
  access to channel to secondary users

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SPECIFIC ISSUES cont

• crashes and close calls because of lack of
  communication or miscommunication
• inconsistencies in calling procedures, signage,
  area frequencies
• Call procedures are unclear or change along a
  road or road system
• mobility of trucks moving around the province,
  working in different areas because of weather and
  seasonal changes, truck shortages, new BCTS
  reallocation areas, longer hauls, 2 way hauls,
  mountain pine beetle, dimension logs, specialized
  mills....

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• VHF Radio Pilot Projects Working Group

• Working Group formed in 2006 to improve resource
  road safety with representatives from

• MoFR Resource Tenures and Engineering Branch
• B.C. Timber Sales
• BCMOFR Radio Operations
• B.C. Forest Safety Council, Trucksafe
• Industry Canada, Spectrum Management
• Working group developed a new communications
  protocol

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• Plus consultation with other stakeholders,
  including
• Road Use Permit Holders
• Contract log haulers
• Service industry (fuel, repairs, low beds etc)
• Radio suppliers/installers

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• WORKING GROUP PROPOSALS
• ESTABLISH A STAND-ALONE PROVINCE-WIDE SET OF
  RESOURCE ROAD CHANNELS
• MOFR TO ALLOCATE ONE OF THESE CHANNELS TO EACH
  FOREST SERVICE ROAD SYSTEM
• ESTABLISH A COMMON SET OF CHANNELS FOR LOADING
  AND UNLOADING SITES
• STANDARDIZED ROAD CHANNEL SIGNAGE AT THE START OF
  A FOREST SERVICE ROAD
• STANDARD FOR KILOMETRE MARKERS TO INCLUDE ROAD
  NAME, KM STATION AND DIRECTION OF TRAVEL AS USED
  ON THAT ROAD
• TWO PILOT AREAS (CENTRAL/SOUTH VANCOUVER
  ISLAND/SUNSHINE COAST OJAY AREA NEAR TUMBLER
  RIDGE)
• IMPLEMENT PROVINCIALLY

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Regulations

• Forest and Range Practices Act
• FOREST SERVICE ROAD USE REGULATIONB.C. Reg.
  70/2004

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Use of 2-way radio (S. 5)

• 1) A driver on a forest service road who uses a
  2-way radio to communicate with other drivers on
  the road must announce, in accordance with any
  road markers posted at intervals along the road, 
• (a) his or her position, and 
• (b) the branch of the road being travelled, if
  the radio's signal can be received on more than
  one adjacent branch of the road.  
• (2) Subsection (1) applies to a driver only if 
• (a) the driver uses a radio frequency provided by
  the holder of a private commercial radio station
  licence, or other licence under the
  Radiocommunication Act (Canada) and the
  regulations under that Act, to communicate with
  the other drivers, and 
• (b) the forest service road is posted with a sign
  that indicates the radio frequency that is to be
  used.

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Traffic control devices (S.6)

• (1) A district manager or an official may cause
  a traffic control device to be erected on a
  forest service road if, in the district manager's
  opinion, restrictions on the use of the road or
  the traffic on the road are required to achieve
  the purposes of section 4 (b) and (c) of the
  Ministry of Forests Act.
• (2) Without limiting the generality of subsection
  (1), a traffic control device may be used in any
  of the following ways 
• (a) to close the road to all traffic or to
  specified categories or sizes of motor vehicles
  including those not engaged in commercial
  activities 
• (b) to close the road totally, or for a specified
  period of time 
• (c) to regulate the movement of traffic 
• (d) to require the use of 2-way radio systems
  during certain hours in order to coordinate the
  movement of traffic, including specifying the
  radio frequency to be used on portions of forest
  service roads 
• (e) to restrict the use of vehicles having
  characteristics that could damage the forest
  service road or create a safety risk 
• (f) to warn drivers of hazardous or unusual
  conditions existing on forest service roads.

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Regulation SummaryUse of 2-way radio 

• In general, a driver on a forest service road
  who uses a licensed 2-way radio to communicate
  with other drivers on the road must announce his
  or her position, in accordance with
• any road markers posted at intervals along the
  road, and
• the forest service road sign that indicates the
  radio frequency that is to be used

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MoF Position on Radio Use for Staff

• Ministry policy has been that handheld radios for
  communicating with other vehicles on resource
  roads is not permitted - mobile (truck mounted)
  radio units are required.
• In cases where temporary Ministry staff or
  Ministry Contractors (such as fire wardens)
  require access the Ministry can provide a higher
  power seatback unit (Mobile breadboard with
  magnetic mount antenna) to improve safety and
  communications with other road traffic.
• For Protection staff, fire wardens or other
  contract users they can obtain a seatback radio
  by requesting through Regional Radio shops.
  Several have been ordered for districts.

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• There is a need to develop a standard for
  operating and communicating on Resource Roads to
  meet the needs of single and multiple users in
  order that they may operate and communicate
  safely.

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• To this end the MOF/BCTS has obtained radio
  frequencies which are available to provide
  effective coverage to all users while operating
  on Forest Service Roads (FSR's.)
• No requirement for letter of authoritychannels
  are available to all road users

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COAST PILOT
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INITIAL IMPLICATIONS FOR PILOT AREAS

• Rationalize road systems and if necessary
  establish new PoC and road names.
• Map road systems and spatially assign radio
  channels
• Install frequencies in Ministry radios
• Install new Radio Channel and kilometre marker
  signs
• Advise road users
• Advise public and others

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Notification Letter Template

• Dear Permittee
• Please be advised that effective _____________
  the Ministry of Forests and Range will be
  implementing part of the Resource Radio Frequency
  pilot project. All road users will be required
  to have the proper channels installed for
  operation on the ______________ Service Road
  (FSR). Radio frequencies will be posted at the
  start of the FSR.
• It is recommended that permittee's have the full
  bank of new Resource Road frequencies installed.
  Industry Canada has sent all radio shops the
  necessary information to upgrade your radios.
  The initial frequency for the _______________ FSR
  is
• ____________, Frequency ____________, Tone
  __________
• As this is a pilot project, the initial frequency
  may change if problems with transmissions or
  reception are encountered.
• For more information please view the Ministry of
  Forests and Range website at
• http//www.for.gov.bc.ca/dsi/ or the BC Timber
  Sales website at
• http//www.for.gov.bc.ca/bcts/areas/TSG.htm or
  contact _______________, Engineering Specialist,
  BC Timber Sales, Strait of Georgia Business Area,
  at _______________.
• Yours truly,
• Trish Balcaen
• District Manager
• South Island Forest District

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Establishing Radio Channels
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Resource Road Channels

• A series of Resource Channels have been dedicated
  for use on FSRs. These channels have been
  previously assigned and are unique to each road
  system.
• Radio users are to only use the identified
  channel for that road system, which will be
  posted at the start of the FSR (use of alternate
  RR channels may interfere with other nearby road
  systems)

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VHF Radio Pilot Projects Working Channels

• 14 frequencies with 3 tone codes each for a total
  of 42 dedicated narrow band channels
• 33 road and 9 loading channels
• low (5W) and high (30W) power channels
• standardized signage
• standardized radio call procedures

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33- RR Channels 9- Loading Channels 42- Channels
Total
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VHF Radio Pilot Projects Preliminary Testing
Results

• Results to date

• 5W channels provide adequate coverage in most
  cases, often getting good audible reception at 7
  18 km
• Subtle ridges can create dead spots but hard to
  predict by visual inspection, reduces reception
  to 4 km
• Adequate coverage depends on topography and road
  geometry
• Tsitika signage has been very well received

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FSR Radio Mapping Procedures

• The Road Manager will identify the Main road
  and establish Branch names and numbers.
• The Road Manager will select the Point of
  Commencement (PoC) of each road.
• The PoC will normally be the log dump, highway
  connection or junction with another FS road.
• The kilometre numbering for each branch road off
  of the main will recommence at Km 0 and be
  spatially established.

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• VHF Radio Pilot Testing Outstanding Issues

• Whats an acceptable communication distance?
• If 5W channels are implemented will a detailed
  risk assessment be required on each road to find
  dead spots and position must call signs?
• Finalize call procedures
• Determine Provincial roll out date
• Public awareness

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Public/Other Commercial Users Awareness

• Standardized signage
• Standardized channels
• Public Service Announcements (PSAs)
• Low watt FM broadcasts is key areas (Sproat Lake
  88.1 MHz)

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Resource Road Call Procedures
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Radio Call Procedure Goals

• This procedure is intended to address four
  distinct parts
• 1) provision of dedicated Resource Road Safety
  Channels
• 2) Provision of operational Loading Channels
• 3) Establishment of standardized road signage
• 4) Development of standardized radio call
  procedures

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VHF Radio Pilot Projects Call procedures

• Default Call Procedure identified for
  province-wide use

• Call frequency every km traveling in either
  direction
• Call order Road Name Kilometer Direction
  Vehicle type
• Rules for convoy calling
• Must call at junctions and other key points

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Radio Call Procedures

• When using a radio to announce locations, the
  operator will
• Call when entering onto the FSR or onto any
  named spur roads
• at each kilometre mark subsequently, or Must
  Call sign
• announce vehicle type and then information as
  indicated on the sign (ie Fuel Truck,--Eve
  River12 kmUp)
• Every vehicle will call each kilometre

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Road Signage
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• At the PoC of the main FSR an identification
  sign, and the Resource Road (RR) channel (and
  frequency and tone) sign will be posted

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Branch Roads

• Each driveable branch road will have an
  identification sign posted at the PoC

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Kilometre Signage

• Kilometre signs will be installed at every
  kilometrevisible from both directions
• Signs will indicate road name, road mark and
  direction of travel.
• Kilometre signs will be installed both ways on
  the road, to cover travel in either direction

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VHF Radio Pilot Projects - Signage

• New signage

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LOADING CHANNEL ASSIGNMENTS FOR PILOTS

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Loading Channels

• The loading channels are intended to be utilized
  for communications for operational requirements
  (e.g. between truck drivers and loader operators,
  during loading and unloading situations). They
  are not to be used while travelling on roads
• Upon entering a cut block, landing or sort yard
  the radio channel to be used will be posted along
  with the worksite operators company name.
• The worksite operator may select any of the
  available Loading Channels providing it does not
  conflict with other users in the immediate area.
• The worksite operator will be responsible for
  supplying and installing the LD sign.

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Loading Channels cont

• The loading channels are intended to be utilized
  between truck drivers and loader operators,
  during loading and unloading situations. They are
  not to be used while traveling on roads
• Upon entering cut block, landing or sort yard the
  radio channel to be used will be posted along
  with the worksite operators company name.

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Loading Channels
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Loading Channels Signage
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Trucksafe
SAFETY IMPLICATIONS
On the Road to Safety
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• How will this make the roads safer?
• every radio-equipped vehicle will have the same
  resource road safety channels programmed in
  across the province
• dedicated resource road safety channels will be
  clearly identified by specific signage, which
  will ensure clear communication
• road channels will not be used for loading
  channels

On the Road to Safety
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• Forestry TruckSafes Commitment
• education of road users around new radio
• channels and usage
• communication with road users through
• Forest Safety Council website, Rumblings
• newsletter, presentations, media, public
• meetings
• exploring options on finding funding assistance
  for re-programming with new channels in pilot
  areas
• communications with Industry Canada and BC
  Timber Sales re radio-use related incidents on
  roads
• development of regional radio calling
  procedures with stakeholders

On the Road to Safety
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• Forestry TruckSafes Commitment contd
• to support BCTS contractors by providing
  information packages
• to educate non-forestry resource road users
  oil gas, mining, guiding, tourism, service
  industry
• to provide web-based on-going support that will
  allow road users to identify what channels are
  used where who is using them, what the rules of
  the road are and what the radio calling
  protocols are
• provide hotline support to deal with issues as
  they arise

On the Road to Safety
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Trucksafe SAFETY SURVEY FOR STANDARDIZED
OFF-HIGHWAY RADIO CALLING PROCEDURES
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VHF Radio Pilot Projects Call procedures
Truckers/Users Perspective

• Opportunity to fine-tune procedures for local
  conditions
• Changes should be developed and endorsed by a
  road user committee

• Positive feedback from recent Trucksafe survey

• Province wide standard supported
• Majority favor Up / Down for call direction

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1. In your opinion, which of the following issues
around radio use are the top three contributors
to crashes or unsafe road use around the province?
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2. Is a province wide standardized radio calling
procedure a good idea?
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Calling direction Up and Down

• The proposed new rules would require vehicles to
  call up as they move away from the highway and
  down as they move towards the highway.

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3. Do you agree with the logic behind the working
groups recommendation to use up and down to
indicate direction?
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4. How often should vehicles moving towards the
highway call their position on the radio?
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Calling order

• The proposed new rules would require drivers to
  call Road kilometer- direction type of
  vehicle
• Since knowing whats coming may change how a
  driver chooses to operate (i.e. pickup vs. log
  truck),
• and since order of calling is important because
  often operators will start speaking before they
  key the mike, this calling order was chosen to
  try and make sure the most important information
  has the highest chance of getting broadcast.
  Signage will match the calling order.

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5. Do you agree with the logic behind the working
groups recommendation about calling order
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6. Should vehicles identify what type they are?
(e.g. pickup, lowbed, tanker, etc)
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7. When is the best / most sensible time to
implement new radio calling rules?
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8. What is the best way to inform road users
about the radio calling standard? (Indicate as
many as you like)
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Incident Reports Involving Radio Communications
Lapses as reported to the B.C. Forest Safety
Council (Trucksafe)
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Why is a standard radio use protocol necessary?

• to reduce incidences of crashes in the bush
  because somebody was on the wrong channel
• to ensure that wherever you are in the
  province, you have the right channel in your
  radio

Both these incidents were loaded trucks
rear-ending other loaded trucks in adverse
weather conditions both werent on the right
channel as they were short term hauls, and didnt
get channels programmed into their radios.
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• reports of log trucks and pickups traveling to
  and from the workplace and not using proper radio
  protocol

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• Immediately after the notice of an accident is
  broadcast, all traffic stops at the closest
  available pullout and stays stopped until given
  the all clear

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• Log truck/silviculture crew suburban narrowly
  missed contact due to missed radio calls when
  approaching a frequency switch board

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• Warn all drivers to use radios and clear loaded
  traffic.

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• Pick up truck towing trailer did not have a
  radio.
• Log truck slowed to pass but pickup tried to back
  up causing trailer to jackknife in front of log
  truck

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• Verbal agreement between two loaded trucks that
  the second truck would remain silent.
• Second truck driver later missed a both ways
  call.