Lesson 6 Traffic Safety Protecting People While Stabilizing The Incident

Identifying, Assessing & Managing Risk Upon approaching the scene: Identify hazards and develop a plan to protect the scene

Identifying, Assessing & Managing Risk Expect other drivers to make mistakes Consider the type of roadway you will be working on (i.e. freeway vs. city street) Weather conditions (dry vs. wet road or good vs. poor visibility) Time of day (or night) (scene and personal visibility and proper use of lighting)

Identifying, Assessing & Managing Risk What is Risk Assessment? “Assessing or determining the possibility of suffering harm or loss, and to what extent” This is the first step in determining your plan of action

Identifying, Assessing & Managing Risk What is Risk Management? “The development of strategy and tactical plans based on an accurate risk assessment taking into consideration current and potentially changing scene conditions”

Driver Reaction Time Components of reaction time Mental Processing Time: Sensation Sensation Perception / Recognition Perception / Recognition Situational Awareness Situational Awareness Response Selection Response Selection

Driver Reaction Time Components of reaction time Movement Time: The time required to perform the selected action

Driver Reaction Time Components of reaction time Device Response Time: The functional time of a mechanical device to activate

Temporary Traffic Control Zone Provides reasonably safe and efficient movement of traffic. Reasonably protects workers, responders to traffic incidents, and their equipment.

Temporary Traffic Control Zone Components of a TTC Zone 1. Advance Warning Area 2. Transition Area 3. Activity Area 4. Buffer Space 5. Termination Area

Temporary Traffic Control Zone Advance Warning Area Tells drivers what to expect ahead. Tells drivers what to expect ahead. Typical distances for placement of advance warning signs on high speed roadways should be longer because drivers are conditioned to uninterrupted flow. Typical distances for placement of advance warning signs on high speed roadways should be longer because drivers are conditioned to uninterrupted flow.

Temporary Traffic Control Zone Transition Area Moves traffic out of its normal path and away from the activity area. Moves traffic out of its normal path and away from the activity area.

Temporary Traffic Control Zone Activity Area This is where the work takes place. This is where the work takes place. This also includes your Buffer Space This also includes your Buffer Space

Temporary Traffic Control Zone Buffer Space Separates traffic from your work area. Separates traffic from your work area. Also provides some recovery area for an errant vehicle. Also provides some recovery area for an errant vehicle. Neither work nor equipment storage should occur in the Buffer Space. Neither work nor equipment storage should occur in the Buffer Space.

Temporary Traffic Control Zone Termination Area Returns traffic back to their normal path beyond the incident scene. Returns traffic back to their normal path beyond the incident scene. Should include its own Buffer Space. Should include its own Buffer Space.

Traffic Control Devices Used to warn or guide road users Used to warn or guide road users Provides for the orderly movement of traffic Provides for the orderly movement of traffic

Traffic Control Devices Should meet 5 basic requirements: Fulfill a need Fulfill a need Command attention Command attention Convey a clear, simple meaning Convey a clear, simple meaning Command respect from road users Command respect from road users Give adequate time for proper response Give adequate time for proper response

Channelizing Devices Traffic Cones

Channelizing Devices Minimize the possibility of the cones being blown over Double up on the cones to increase their weight if needed

Channelizing Devices Traffic cones should have a retro reflective band that is no less than 4 inches in height

Channelizing Devices Minimum traffic cone height of 28 inches

Channelizing Devices Placing a flare in front of the cone at night increases the visibility of the cone

Placement of Traffic Control Devices The road user should have adequate time to make a proper response in both day and night conditions

Placement of Traffic Control Devices Should be in a uniform and consistent manner

Placement of Traffic Control Devices

Your apparatus is also a traffic control device

Placement of Apparatus Place within the Activity Area Place within the Activity Area Uniform and consistent with other traffic control devices Uniform and consistent with other traffic control devices

Placement of Apparatus Physical protection barrier to secondary collisions Physical protection barrier to secondary collisions Protection of the pump operator Protection of the pump operator Protection of the crews Protection of the crews Protection of the citizens Protection of the citizens

Placement of Apparatus Fire engines and other large apparatus Park at a 45 degree angle Park at a 45 degree angle Exposes more surface area to absorb an impact from an errant vehicle Exposes more surface area to absorb an impact from an errant vehicle Provides a “wall” of protection Provides a “wall” of protection

Placement of Apparatus Park within the Activity Area Park within the Activity Area Downstream or in the shadow of the fire engine Downstream or in the shadow of the fire engine Transport vehicles

Placement of Apparatus Downstream: Downstream: Parallel with traffic Parallel with traffic Ease of loading gurney into vehicle Ease of loading gurney into vehicle Clear access to roadway when leaving for transport Clear access to roadway when leaving for transport Transport vehicles

Placement of Apparatus Park at a 45 degree angle with the pump panel (drivers side) facing the Activity Area When the fire engine is to be staffed with a pump operator/engineer

Night Time Visibility Common misconception: The more warning lights that are flashing, the better we can be seen At the incident scene

Night Time Visibility The reality is: The warning lights can be seen very well Drivers get “drawn in” to the lights Personnel visibility is reduced when they are overcome by excessive emergency lights At the incident scene

Night Time Visibility Turn off all unnecessary warning lights Excessive warning lights may: Cause a distraction to drivers ~ ~ ~ Act as a deadly attraction to drivers who are under the influence of drugs or alcohol At the incident scene

Night Time Visibility Turn off all unnecessary headlights When parked at the scene Excessive headlights may: Be blinding to oncoming traffic and Cause personnel to be nearly invisible to oncoming drivers when they stand or walk in-between the headlights and the oncoming traffic At the incident scene

Night Time Visibility Turn off all unnecessary headlights when parked at the scene At the incident scene

Night Time Visibility Use vehicle mounted floodlights to light the scene Provides a safer working environment Provides a safer working environment Reduces distraction to traffic drivers caused by warning lights Reduces distraction to traffic drivers caused by warning lights Do not aim the floodlights into the path of traffic drivers Do not aim the floodlights into the path of traffic drivers Ensure the floodlighting does not produce a disabling glare to traffic Ensure the floodlighting does not produce a disabling glare to traffic At the incident scene

Night Time Visibility Use vehicle mounted floodlights to light the scene At the incident scene

Key Elements of Personnel Safety Training Practice traffic safety risk assessments Practice traffic safety risk assessments Establish safe working environments Establish safe working environments

Key Elements of Personnel Safety Emergency Responder Safety Apparel All personnel exposed to the risks of moving traffic shall wear a high visibility vest day or night

Key Elements of Personnel Safety Emergency Responder Safety Apparel Provides more retro-reflective area for better visibility than firefighting turnout gear Provides more retro-reflective area for better visibility than firefighting turnout gear Visibility of personnel is increased during daylight hours with the use of a high visibility vest Visibility of personnel is increased during daylight hours with the use of a high visibility vest It’s the law! It’s the law!

Key Elements of Personnel Safety Incident Scene Traffic Barriers Should be appropriately placed giving consideration to: Clearance of personnel from moving traffic Speed of traffic Duration and type of operations Time of day Volume of traffic

Key Elements of Personnel Safety Speed Reduction Minimizes vulnerability of personnel and can be accomplished by: Lane reduction Funneling traffic Uniformed officers or flaggers to control traffic Electronic signs DOT incident response vehicles

Key Elements of Personnel Safety The responsibility of safety is shared among all personnel from the moment the emergency brake is set until it is released to clear the scene after the incident

Expect drivers to make mistakes and prepare for them