Hwy safety training

1

4

Drive with care – everyone wears

a seatbelt … EVERYONE!

• Safe Speed - Always Under Control

• Stop at Red Lights … STOP!

• Remain Seated and Belted While in Motion

• Protect the Roadway/Scene

Public Safety is our Duty

Firefighter Safety is our Responsibility

EVERYONE GOES HOME!

5

Program Objectives

• Document the hazards presented to Emergency

Responders on or near the roadway

• Summarize the actions necessary to improve

responder safety at roadway incidents

• Correlate the strategies of the National Unified

Goal for Traffic Incident Management with

actions that will improve responder safety at

roadway incidents

6

Program Objectives

• Recommend appropriate PPE for emergency

responders operating at roadway incidents

• Develop an incident action plan for a roadway

incident that includes a safety plan, proper

apparatus placement and the appropriate

deployment of temporary traffic control measures

• Facilitate the implementation of best practices for

roadway incidents within the participant’s agency or

jurisdiction

7

Course Goal

To present the necessary classroominstruction and evaluation of learning for

emergency service personnel who may beinvolved in highway incidents.

8

Definition of Highway

• Any roadway on which a vehicle-related incident

could occur

• This could include interstate, suburban, rural, dirt

and other roadways

• Anywhere a vehicle could travel

For this course, the term “highway” refers to:

9

Understanding Risk

Risk Control Process

• Identify the risks

• Evaluate and prioritize the risks

• Identify risk control measures

• Implement controls

• Monitor the results

10

What is Risk Control?

Any conscious effort, action (or decision

not to act) that reduces the frequency,

severity or unpredictability of accidental

losses.

11

Risk Avoidance

• Just don’t do it

• Will absolutely reduce risks

• Not practical for emergency services

12

Risk Reduction

• Develop steps to reduce the known risks

• Develop (and enforce) SOPs/SOGs• Response to highway incidents

• Working along roadways

• Setting up temporary traffic control zones

13

Near Miss

What is a near miss or

close call?

16

Understanding Risk

The difference between a near-miss or a

loss is seconds and inches (luck).

“Don’t let extreme luck

feed bad behavior”

17

Comprehensive Highway Safety

• Classroom instruction

• Initial training, orientation, drills / table top

• Testing and evaluation

Program

18

Chapter 1

Extent of the Problem

19

Objectives

• Describe the roles and responsibilities related to

personal safety at highway incident scenes

• Recognize the factors that contribute to the

incidence of highway emergency worker injury and

death

• Discuss the impact of injuries and deaths to

emergency service workers

• Explain the rationale for changing the attitude of

emergency workers at highway incidents

20

Perspective

• Reflect on your first emergency service classes

• What do you remember about highway safety?

• Potential for personal injury

• Changes in vehicles

• Increased traffic volume

• Attitudes

21

Distracted Drivers

Types of Portable and Embedded Technology

• Cell phones

• GPS devices

• MP3 players

• Video players

22

Distracted Drivers

Other distractions

• Texting

• Eating

• Applying makeup

• Reading

• Talking on hands free device

23

Distracted Drivers

• Using a cell phone while driving, whether it’s hand-held or hands-free, delays a driver's reactions as much as having a blood alcohol concentration at the legal limit of .08 percent. (Source: University of Utah)

• Driving while using a cell phone reduces the amount of brain activity associated with driving by 37 percent. (Source: Carnegie Mellon)

24

Distracted Drivers

• 80 percent of all crashes and 65 percent of near crashes involve some type of distraction. (Source: Virginia Tech 100-car study for NHTSA)

• Nearly 6,000 people died in 2008 in crashes involving a distracted or inattentive driver and more than half a million were injured. (Source: NHTSA)

25

Distracted Drivers

• The worst offenders are the youngest and least-experienced drivers: men and women under 20 years of age. (Source: NHTSA)

• Drivers who use hand-held devices are four times as likely to get into crashes serious enough to injure themselves. (Source: Insurance Institute for Highway Safety)

26

National Work Zone Safety

• Crashes

• 115,000 annual estimate

• Injuries

• 40,000+ annually

• Fatalities

• 1999 - 872

• Today - annual average 1,020

Source FHWA @ http://safety.fhwa.dot.gov/wz/wz_facts.htm

Statistics

27

National Work Zone Statistics In

• One Work Zone or Emergency Responder Injury Every 9 Minutes

• 160 each day

• One Work Zone or Emergency Responder Fatality Every 8.2 hours

• 3 each day

Source FHWA @ http://safety.fhwa.dot.gov/wz/wz_facts.htm

Perspective

28

Perspective!

According to the National Highway Traffic

Safety Administration, “Rural roads are

actually the most dangerous roads in the

nation.”

29

Extent of the Problem

What they didn’t teach you about

“Highway Safety”

30

“It was just a routine call”

• LIONVILLE , PA

• March 9th – Raining with wet roadways

• Initial alarm was at 14:10 for a car in a ditch

on the PA Turnpike.

• Uwchlan Ambulance and Lionville Fire /

Rescue responded with an Ambulance,

Engine, Rescue, the Chief & an Assistant

Chief.

31

“It was just a routine call”

• Tractor Trailer driver loses control and

crashes into scene

• Mass confusion at the scene

• Many assist companies self-dispatched

• Heavy radio traffic due to weather-related

calls

• Weather grounded Medivac right after crash

32

“It was just a routine call”

• Aftermath of the crash

• 8 firefighters and 2 EMTs involved in the

crash

• 1 fatality and 9 serious injuries

• Assistant Chief was disabled for several

months. Eventually resigned from the

department

• Physical therapy and numerous surgeries for

one firefighter

43

NIOSH Findings

• Ensure fire apparatus are positioned to protect firefighters from traffic

• Establish, implement and enforce standard operating procedures (SOPs) regarding safe work practices while responding to calls in or near moving traffic

• Train personnel in safe procedures for operating in or near moving traffic

• Ensure that when operating at an emergency scene, personnel wear high-visibility safety apparel suitable to the incident, such as a highly visible, reflectorized flagger’s vest (e.g., strong yellow-green or orange)

54

Contributing Factors

• Lack of training

• Lack of situational awareness

• Failure to establish a proper Temporary Traffic Control Zone

• Improper safe positioning of vehicles

• Inappropriate scene lighting

• Failure to use PPE, high visibility apparel & safety equipment

• Other drivers, reduced vision & altered traffic patterns

55

Additional Issues

• Ineffective notice/warning to civilian drivers

• Weather and roadway conditions

• Scene visibility and lighting

• Physical movement of emergency responders

• Privately-owned vehicles (POVs)

• Protection at the scene

56

Proactive Strategies

• Train and educate personnel

• Proper PPE

• Proper safe positioning of apparatus

• Use of temporary traffic control devices

• Multi-agency planning

• Apparatus visibility design features

57

Impact of Injuries or Death

• Personnel injury or death

• Peripheral injury or death

• Long term impact

• Psychological impact

58

The Long Term Impact

• Loss of experienced personnel

• Criminal or civil litigation

• Financial impact

• Inability to deliver service

• Loss of public respect and support

59

Words to Live By

“Firefighters responding to calls need to

operate as if someone is trying to run them

over.”

–James Joyce

Former Fire Commissioner

Chicago Fire Department

60

Extent of the Problem Summary

• Number of personnel being struck is still

a concern

• Many of the contributing factors are

related to lack of situational awareness

• Proactive actions can save lives

61

Chapter 2

Planning, Multi-Agency

Communication & Coordination

62

Objectives

• Describe the National Unified Goal (NUG)

• Discuss how planning reduces the amount of on-scene time at the highway incident

• Understand the need for common terminology for multi-agency response

• Identify methods to improve multi-agency communication & coordination

• Recognize highway safety threat areas in the response district

63

National Unified Goal (NUG)

Established by: EMS, Fire/Rescue,

Law Enforcement, Towing, Transportation

and Public Safety Communications

• Reduce traffic congestion

• Increase responder safety

• Safe quick clearance

• Prompt reliable communication

64

Causes of Traffic Congestion

Federal Highway Administration

65

NTIMC States

“For every minute that a freeway

travel lane is blocked during a

peak travel period, four minutes

of travel delay results after the

incident is cleared.”

National Traffic Incident Management Coalition

67

If the crash scene is here...

Common Terminology

68

This is the normal traffic flow

Common Terminology

69

Upstream

This the “Upstream” traffic from

the crash scene

70

Downstream

This the “Downstream” traffic

71

Lane Numbering

Left Shoulder

Lane 1Lane 2

Right Shoulder

Left to Right

Best Practice

72

Communication & Coordination

• Planning

• Training with other agencies

• Tabletop exercises

• Simulations

• Post-incident analysis

• National Incident Management System

(NIMS)

73

Highway Safety Triangle

Cooperation Communication

Coordination

Successful Unified Command

74

First Arriving Vehicle

• Safe-positioned

• Establish command

• Meet safety benchmarks

75

Incident Command Benchmarks

• Assure the first emergency vehicle that arrives

establishes an initial block to create a safe work

area as well as a command and deploys traffic

control devices if safe

• Assess the parking needs of EMS, later-arriving

fire apparatus and other highway responders

• Assure high visibility reflective vests or

appropriate PPE is worn

76

Incident Command Benchmarks

• If available, position appropriate apparatus to

block (tanker, aerial, pumper) and establish a

sufficient size work zone

• Assure that all equipment, personnel and

patients are kept within the protected work area

(shadow) of the larger apparatus

• Assure blocking apparatus and wheel angles are

positioned correctly

77

Incident Command Benchmarks

• Instruct the driver of the ambulance to “block to

the right” or “block to the left” at the scene, in

order to position the rear patient-loading area

away from the closest lane of moving traffic

• Assure that all patient loading into transporting

EMS vehicles is done within a protected work

space

• Assure deployed traffic control devices are

removed safely

78

Benchmarks in Action

79

Incident Command Benchmarks

EMS ONLY Response

• Assure the ambulance establishes an initial block

to create a safe work area, establishes command

and deploys traffic control devices, if safe

• Assess the scene and consider requesting

additional apparatus or law enforcement for

blocking and/or traffic control

• Assure apparatus blocking and wheel angles are

positioned correctly

80

Incident Command Benchmarks

EMS ONLY Response

• Assure high visibility vest or appropriate PPE is

worn

• Assure EMS providers assess and treat patient in

protected shadow of ambulance

• When the patient is prepared for transport,

ambulance is repositioned so the patient’s vehicle

is used as a blocking vehicle

81

Incident Command Benchmarks

EMS ONLY Response

• Instruct the driver of the ambulance to “block to

the right” or “block to the left” as the emergency

vehicle is parked at the scene in order to position

the rear patient-loading area away from the

closest lane of moving traffic

82

Incident Command Benchmarks

EMS ONLY Response

• Assure that all patient loading into transporting

EMS vehicles is done within a protected work

space

• Assure deployed traffic control devices are

removed safely

83

EMS As The Only Response

84

Planning

• Communication, Coordination and

Cooperation

• Identification of Highway Safety threats

85

Planning

• Highway construction projects

• Special events

• Planned detours

86

Planning, Communication &

• Chaos or coordination … the choice is

yours

• Advanced preparation, planning and

training can provide a safe work

environment

• Failure to plan could result in chaos

Coordination Summary

87

SOPs/SOGs

Chapter 3

88

Objectives

• Differentiate between SOPs/SOGs related to

highway safety

• Understand the benefits of SOPs/SOGs related to

highway safety

• List highway safety subject areas for

consideration in SOPs/SOGs

89

SOPs/SOGs Example

• Policy – Go from Point “A” to Point ”B”

• Procedure – Begin at Point “A” go to Point “B” by following the prescribed directions

• Guideline – Begin at Point “A” go to Point “B” but does not give explicit directions as a procedure

• Rules and Regulations – Do not cross any line, do not backtrack

90

What are SOPs/SOGs?

• Defines how ESO will operate

• Don’t confuse with pre-plans

• Not intended to duplicate technical

information

91

General Provisions

• All personnel understand what is expected or

required

• Intended compliance with all necessary

requirements is identified

• Planned and agreed upon actions

• Resource document upon which to base training

• Required actions have been anticipated

92

Highway Incident Subject Areas

• Training requirements to operate at scene

• Incident command structure

• Accountability

• Use of high visibility vest

• Specific responsibilities and functions

• Qualifications of personnel for assigned tasks

• And … Communication procedures at incident

93

SOPs / SOGs Summary

• Provides guidance

• Protects organization(s)

and individual

• Regular review essential

• And … Integral part of

training

94

Chapter 4

Legal and Regulatory Implications

95

Objectives

• Identify specific laws that impact emergency

workers while operating on roadways

• Recognize the elements of the Manual on

Uniform Traffic Control Devices(MUTCD)

• Identify the sections of MUTCD that effect

emergency responders

• Understand the law as it pertains to the use of

high visibility vests

96

Legal and Regulatory Implications

• Laws, regulations and standards

• Interface with other documents

• Administrative requirements

• Operational reasons

97

MUTCD

www.mutcd.fhwa.dot.gov

98

MUTCD

• Chapter 1A – General

• Section 1A.07 – Responsibility

• MUTCD

• Each state shall be in substantial compliance

• Highway Safety Act of 1966

• State Highway Agencies shall adopt a manual

• Meet the requirements of the most recent edition

adopted by the Federal Highway Administration

• 2009 Edition

99

Section 1A.12

• 10 of the 13 colors are being used

• Fluorescent Pink – Incident Management

Color Codes

100

MUTCD

Part 6

Temporary Traffic Control

101

Section 6D.03Worker Safety

A. Training

B. Temporary Traffic Barrier

C. Speed Reduction

D. Activity Area

E. Safety Planning

Key Elements of Worker Safety and TTC

Management

102

All workers including emergency responders

within the right of way shall wear High

Visibility Safety Apparel

Section 6D.03Worker Safety

Key Elements of Worker Safety and TTC

Management

103

Law Enforcement

• Standard - When uniformed law enforcement

personnel are used to direct traffic, investigate

crashes, handle lane closures, obstructed

roadways and disasters, high visibility apparel

as described in section MUTCD 6D.03 shall be

worn.

108

• NIMS requires ICS at traffic incidents

• 3 types of work durations

• Minor (less than 30 minutes )

• Intermediate (30 minutes - 2 hours)

• Major (more than 2 hours)

Section 6I.01 Support

109

Section 6I.01

• Mutually plan with responding agencies

• Responders trained in TTC practices for

assigned tasks

• All responders and news media should wear high

visibility apparel

• Emergency vehicles should be safe positioned

• Responders should estimate time duration of the

traffic incident

Guidance

110

Section 6I.01

• Warning and guide signs used for TTC traffic

incident management situations may have a black

legend and border on a fluorescent pink

background

• For traffic incidents, particularly those of an

emergency nature, TTC devices on hand may be

used for the initial response as long as they do not

themselves create unnecessary additional hazards

Option

111

MUTCD Chapter 6I

Control of traffic through traffic

incident management areas

112

Section 6I.02

• Exceeds 2 hrs but not more than 24 hrs

• 24 hrs, see other chapters of Part 6

• Interagency planning

• Manual TC provided by qualified flaggers or

uniformed law enforcement

• Flaggers may use appropriate TTC

devices readily available or to the scene on

short notice

Major Incident

113

Section 6I.03

• Thirty (30) minutes to 2 hrs and usually

requires traffic control to divert road users

• Interagency planning

• Manual traffic control provided by qualified

flaggers or uniformed law enforcement

• Flaggers may use appropriate TTC devices

readily available or to the scene on short

notice

Intermediate Incident

114

Section 6I.04

• Less than 30 minutes

• Traffic control is the responsibility of the

on-scene responder

• Interagency planning

• Vehicles should be moved to the shoulder

as quickly as possible

Minor Incident

115

• MUTCD Section 6C.02

• Component Parts of a Traffic Control Zone

• Advance Warning

• Transition Area

• Activity Area (Buffer Space & Work Space)

• Termination Area

Temporary Traffic Control Zone

116

AdvanceWarning Area

Transition Area

Activity Area

Buffer – Work Space

Termination Area

Temporary Traffic Control Zone

150’ between Apparatus

117

Road users are informed about incident

• Reference table 6C-1 for recommended

advance warning signs minimum spacing

Advance Warning Area

118

Advance Warning

119

“Best Practices”

• Need for advance warning to slow passing traffic

• Arrow boards, flares, cones, police cars, DOT signage

• Variable message signs, news media / traffic reports

Advance Warning

120

Road users are redirected

• Blocking vehicle

• Cones

• Upstream from “block”

• 15-20 feet between cones

• Lighted flares to emphasize cones

Transition Area

121

Transition Area

122

Activity Area - Buffer

123

Activity Area

Buffer and work space

• Buffer based on speed limit

• Work space

124

Activity Area – Work Space

125

Termination Area

Returns traffic to normal path

126

23 CFR 634

Worker Visibility Final Rule

Federal Regulation

Responder Safety photo

128

23 CFR 634

• High visibility garments required for all

emergency service workers while working

on roadways

• ANSI 107 Class 2 or 3 high visibility vests

required

Final Rule

129

Exception

• Firefighters, when actively engaged in

emergency operation that directly expose

workers to flame, fire, heat or hazardous

materials may wear retroreflective turnout gear

• Police officers, in potential adversarial rolls to

include traffic stops and searches

“At all other times vests shall be worn”

130

Legal & Regulatory Summary

• Understand the laws, regulations and standards

that impact the ESO

• Familiarize yourself with the MUTCD

• Comply with worker visibility rule and the

appropriate exemptions

• Develop strategies to protect emergency workers

while operating at highway incidents

131

Chapter 5

On Scene Operations:

The First 60 Minutes

132

Objectives

• Describe the effects of SOPs/SOGs on emergency response to various highway incidents.

• Describe the actions that must be fulfilled at a highway emergency scene to ensure safe operation.

• List the personal safety measures to be used by emergency responders while working in or near moving traffic.

133

Objectives

• Understand the roles and responsibilities of the

emergency service worker related to personal

safety at highway incidents.

• Lists the risks associated with closing down traffic

and incident termination.

Continued

134

On Scene Operations

• Response

• Safe positioning of emergency vehicles

The First 60 Minutes

135

Proper Wheel Position

136

“Best Practices”

Safety officer assigned for scene safety,

scene hazards and traffic control.

The First 60 MinutesSafety Officer

137

Personal Safety Measures

• Maintain situational awareness

• Don appropriate reflective vest and clothing

• Look before exiting the vehicle

• Exit and enter the vehicle on the downstream side

• Look before you step

• Keep your eyes on traffic

• Limit your exposure

• Keep as reduced a profile as possible

138

Situational Awareness

Guard the Scene - Guard the Crew

The First 60 Minutes

139

Look Before Exiting

140

Poor Scene Lighting

Good Scene Lighting

Scene Lighting

141

Scene Lighting

“Best Practices”

Reduce emergency lights, use “blocking” mode,

sign boards, arrow boards, arrow sticks

• Increase use of amber lenses witch is more

apt to slow traffic

• Provide scene illumination after dark

• Presence of law enforcement vehicles

shown to slow traffic

142

Not popular with law enforcement or the public.

May be necessary!

Advanced planning is key.

Closing Down Traffic Flow

143

• Limit the Exposure • Minimum Apparatus & Personnel

• Limit crews on scene to only those necessary

“Best Practices”

Staging of Apparatus & POVs

144

“Best Practices”

Limit the time on scene

• Use two way radios to advise of conditions

• Take down cones & warning signs with

caution

• Use safety officer during take down periods

• Clear-up crews as soon as possible

Incident Termination

145

Recommendations

• Reduce blinding vehicle lights

• Increase awareness of oncoming drivers

• Wear MUTCD / ANSI compliant garment

• Have necessary TTC devices

• Safe position vehicles

USFA Traffic Incident Management Systems, April 2008

146

Recommendations

• Establish adequately sized work zone

• Deploy and remove devices safely

• Personnel are properly trained and

equipped

• Apparatus wheels turned away from the

work area

USFA Traffic Incident Management Systems, April 2008

147

On Scene Operations Summary

• Mitigate and resolve the incident as

quickly as possible

• Deploy and remove TTC devices safely

• Emergency personnel should always

consider personal safety measures

148

Chapter 6

Apparatus Design and

Equipment Considerations

149

Objectives

• Describe apparatus features that should be considered for increasing the degree of safety at highway incident scenes

• List and describe safety-related equipment to be included on apparatus for use at highway incidents by personnel when working in or near moving traffic

150

NFPA 1901 & Related Issues

NFPA 1901

• Lighting

• Reflective striping

• Safety

enhancements…

151

NFPA 1901

• Rear Reflective Markings

• 50% of the rear-facing vertical surface of all vehicles

must now be covered with reflective red and yellow

stripes in a chevron pattern sloping downward from the

center of the vehicle at a 45-degree angle.

• The stripes must be 6” wide, instead of the minimum

combined width of 4” specified on the sides and front.

• Although there is some latitude on the exact shade of yellow to

be used, other colors may not be substituted.

152

Reflective Markings

153

Rear Safety Striping

Apparatus Design

154

Apparatus Design

155

Vehicle Design

156

Jacksonville Beach Fire Department Apparatus

Existing Apparatus Design

157

Other Designs

170

Chapter 7

Scenarios & Best Practices

171

Objectives

• Demonstrate the ability to establish a safe temporary work zone given various roadway types and scene conditions

• Identify safety concerns given various roadway types and scene conditions

• Critique the temporary work zones created in the given scenarios for best practices related to operability and safety

• Develop an attitude to accept, use and enforce highway workplace safety

172

Scenarios

• Multi-lane highway with grass median

• Four lane divided highway

• Urban street with center turn

• Intersection

• Curved two-lane road

• Two-lane rural

173

Scenarios Summary

• Review common types of incidents provided

• Develop scenarios that meet the needs of your

ESO

• Preplanning specific areas of your response

district may be helpful in mitigating secondary

accidents