TFD Driver Retraining Policy

Overview

• This establishes TFD’s policy on driver retraining
• No procedures included

Applicability

• It applies to all TFD personnel permanently assigned as drivers and paramedics
• Applies to those who drive a TFD vehicle or apparatus
• Applies to those who assist in the operations of a TFD vehicle or apparatus, such as spotters or crew members

Policy Replacement

• This replaces parts of TFD Policy 5008, which is the Accident Review Board/Driver Retraining Program from November 2001, specifically regarding driver retraining

Associated Forms

• TFD Driver Retraining packet
• 28 Shift Driver Retraining syllabus

Related TFD Policies

• TFD Policy 1010: Counseling and Discipline
• TFD Policy 1012: Departmental Awards
• TFD Policy 5005: Safety Committee
• TFD Policy 5006: Vehicle, Apparatus and Specialty Trailer Safety
• TFD Policy 5007: Vehicle, Apparatus or Specialty Trailer Accidents
• TFD Policy 5008: Accident Review Board
• TFD Policy 5034: Emergency Vehicle Accident Prevention (EVAP)

Responsibilities of the Fire Chief

• Shall review the record of any driver with a chargeable/preventable or preventable ruling by the Accident Review Board ARB
• Shall determine on a case-by-case basis whether an employee found responsible for serious or numerous collisions or incidents will be subject to progressive discipline, driver retraining and/or withdrawal of driving privileges

Responsibilities of the Deputy Chief of Support Services

• Shall ensure TFD has a sustainable and effective Driver Retraining program is in place
• Shall organize and convene an Internal Advisory Board IAB as needed to review driving records of individuals found responsible for multiple preventable, chargeable-preventable and/or numerous collisions or incidents
• Shall forward IAB recommendations to the Fire Chief

Responsibilities of the Administrative Battalion Chief for Safety

• Shall organize/schedule the driver retraining classes
• Shall provide all necessary instruction materials and equipment, including apparatus to be driven
• Shall maintain the appropriate cones course
• Shall ensure each candidate receives a Driver Retraining packet
• Shall maintain a cadre of qualified Driver Retraining instructors
• Shall track each employee’s 28 shift officer evaluation syllabus
• Shall maintain this document

Responsibilities of the Company Officer

• In-charge Firefighter/Paramedic or other personnel in charge of a driver during his/her 28 shift officer evaluation shall:
• Evaluate and document the employee’s driving abilities every shift
• Coach, counsel and discipline the employee as necessary to improve driving habits and proficiency
• Record in Training Tracker the drills that are required in the 28 shift officer evaluation syllabus

Responsibilities of TFD Drivers

• Shall obey all traffic laws and TFD policies
• Shall use defensive driving techniques and best judgment to avoid collisions or incidents that cause injury to people and/or damage to property or equipment
• Shall complete driver retraining and/or the 28 shift officer evaluation syllabus as assigned

Definitions

• 28 Shift Driver Retraining Syllabus: A detailed list of drills, reading and practical evaluations intended to achieve demonstrated improvement in driving skills
• ARB (Accident Review Board): An advisory board that investigates and delivers rulings to the Fire Chief on vehicular collisions, incidents and deliberate occurrences L.D. involving TFD personnel, vehicles, apparatus and specialty trailers
• Apparatus: A mobile piece of TFD firefighting or specialized equipment, such as an engine, ladder, watercraft, air unit, water tender or medic unit
• Chargeable-Preventable: Any collision, reviewable incident or deliberate occurrence L.D. meeting one or more of the following criteria
  • The employee involved has shown willful violation of any law, regulation or order made or given by a superior officer
  • The employee involved has shown negligence in the operation of the vehicle, apparatus or specialty trailer or violation of TFD policy
  • The employee involved was under the influence of substance(s) taken into the body in any form, which impaired his/her mental faculties and/or physical performance, including alcohol and controlled substances
    • This does not apply to a person who used prescription drugs as directed by a physician or dentist, provided such use does not endanger the employee or others
• Collision: Any unplanned situation or event where contact occurs and a TFD vehicle, apparatus or specialty trailer sustains or causes damage to property or equipment and/or injury to people
• District Course/Road Test: A course that satisfies the road test requirements for the Washington State Association of Fire Chiefs EVIP program
• Deliberate Occurrence L.D. (Line of Duty): A situation in which a TFD employee finds it necessary in an emergency, and after exhausting all alternatives, to intentionally use a TFD vehicle, apparatus or specialty trailer as a ram
• EVIP (Emergency Vehicle Incident Prevention, formerly known as EVAP - emergency vehicle accident prevention): A training program and certification process required to operate an emergency vehicle in excess of 26,000 pounds
• Preventable: Any incident, collision or deliberate occurrence L.D. involving the operation of a vehicle, apparatus or specialty trailer in which the employee either did not take appropriate defensive action to avoid the accident or failed to exercise the standard of care required under the circumstances to protect the safety of self or others, property or equipment
• Reviewable Incident: Any incident wherein it is determined that the action and/or inaction of TFD personnel may have been the cause of the accident
• Specialty trailer: Mobile TFD equipment that includes, but is not limited to, the MMRS trailer, spill trailer, decontamination trailer, FCC trailer or light trailer
• Training Tracker: An Electronic database that is used to record all TFD schools and drills
• Vehicle: A TFD automobile, van, sport utility vehicle (SUV) or light truck (e.g., staff car, Fire Investigator’s vehicle or a Battalion Chief vehicle) which may or may not be equipped for priority response, depending upon its intended use
• Watercraft: Vessels propelled across the surface of a body of water by means of oars, paddles, water jets, propellers, towlines or air cushions: used to transport personnel and equipment while keeping the vessel occupants out of the water

References

• RCW 46.25.050 (b) (1)
• EVIP Instructors Guide, Washington State Association of Fire Chiefs

General Guidelines

• Any TFD employee involved in an accident found by the ARB to be either “Preventable” or “Chargeable-Preventable” and who meets certain criteria shall have his/her driving privileges suspended
  • Any single occurrence of a “Chargeable-Preventable”
  • Two “Preventables” within a one year period
  • Three “Preventables” within a five year period
• An operator of watercraft also shall be subject to watercraft specific retraining when s/he meets the above criteria
• Any individual whose driving privileges have been suspended, including those relative to watercraft, shall apply for driver retraining via an e-mail to the Administrative Battalion Chief for Safety
• Participation in any driver retraining shall be subject to approval by the Fire Chief
• Any TFD employee who is found by the ARB and/or Fire Chief to have a “Chargeable-Preventable” or “Preventable” any time after completing a previous TFD Driver Retraining Program shall:
  • Have his/her driving privileges suspended
  • Reapply for repeat driver retraining in accordance with the guidelines set forth in this document subject to Fire Chief approval
  • Successfully complete the 28 shift driver retraining syllabus
• Any accidents that occur after completion of the 28 shift driver retraining syllabus will be reviewed on a case by case basis by the Fire Chief
• Attendance at the Driver Retraining Program shall be completed while on duty
• The Fire Chief may after a review of an employee’s driving record on a case-by-case basis:
  • Deny the employee the opportunity to participate in initial or repeat driver retraining
  • Require the employee to complete the 28 shift driver retraining syllabus as part of initial driver retraining
  • Permanently rescind the employee’s driving privileges and driving pay

Driver Retraining Program Elements

• 4 to 6 hours of classroom sessions, including a written test, with a minimum passing score of 80%
• One hour cones course on the TFD Training Center drill grounds
• One hour practical driving on an open road course, including the Training Center Road Course or a comparable District Course/Road Test
• 28 shift driver retraining syllabus for repeat drivers

Reinstatement of Driving Privileges

• Approval from the driver’s Battalion Chief and the Administrative Battalion Chief for Safety shall be forwarded to the Fire Chief for his/her determination regarding reinstatement of full driving privileges to anyone who has completed initial and/or repeat driver retraining

Company Officer Responsibilities for 28 Shift Syllabus

• Company Officers, In-charge Firefighter/Paramedics and/or other personnel in charge of conducting 28 shift driver retraining syllabus evaluations shall:
  • Document the employee’s driving capabilities in an IDC sent electronically to the driver’s Battalion Chief with a copy to the Administrative Battalion Chief for Safety
  • Record in Training Tracker the drills that are required as part of syllabus completion

IDC Documentation Requirements

• The IDC documentation of employee driving capabilities shall include:
  • Number of emergency incidents driven
  • Number of non-emergency incidents driven
  • Number of route business trips out of station (e.g.; driving to Training Center or FCC)
  • Evaluation of driving drills and driver performance on each shift

Fire Chief's Review of Driving Records

• The Fire Chief will review, on a case-by-case basis, the driving records of employees who have had numerous collisions or incidents or who have been involved in a collision or incident involving an injury, fatality and/or major property damage
  • Further action regarding progressive disciplinary action and driving privileges will be at the discretion of the Fire Chief

28 Shift Driver Retraining Syllabus Details

• The purpose is to help officers and In-charge Firefighter/Paramedics evaluate a driver’s performance and assist the driver in becoming a more proficient and safe Tacoma Fire Department apparatus driver
• TFD Safety Office has developed this syllabus to work in conjunction with TFD Emergency Vehicle Incident Prevention program and Safety Policy 5009, Driver Retraining
• The syllabus is divided into seven shift increments, to correspond to the Department’s pay periods

Responsibilities during the Syllabus

• The Firefighter Driver will be responsible for all the driving drills, skills and information required in the shift designations and may be asked to demonstrate selected drills and skills by their Battalion Chief
• The Battalion Chief and Officer, In-charge Firefighter/Paramedic may verbally quiz the individual on anything pertaining to TFD Policies related to safe defensive driving
• The Training Division and Safety Office provides the information and materials, the Battalion Chief, Company Officer, In-charge Firefighter/Paramedic provide the time and guidance, the firefighter driver provides the attention and effort
• The Officer, In-charge Firefighter/Paramedic and the firefighter driver shall sign the syllabus in the appropriate area each shift as the items are accomplished and shall not be signed off until the firefighter driver actually demonstrates his/her proficiency

Documentation and Contact

• Forward hard copies of all completed “Cones Course Driver Evaluation” and “District Course/Road Test” to the TFD Safety Office at the end of each pay period
• The TFD Safety Office will periodically contact the Battalion Chief, Company Officer, In-charge Firefighter/Paramedic and the firefighter driver to assess progress and the performance level at which the firefighter driver is achieving
• Contact the Administrative Battalion Chief for Safety if any clarification or further information is needed

Shift One through Seven

Responsibilities of Officer, In-charge Firefighter/Paramedic

• Shall instruct and evaluate the Firefighter Driver

Note

• Space is provided for the Officer, In-charge Firefighter/Paramedic and Firefighter Driver to sign and date after the individual has received instruction, practiced and shows proficiency
• Tasks shall not be signed off until the driver actually demonstrates proficiency

Shift One: Orientation, Drills and Evaluations

• The Officer, In-charge Firefighter/Paramedic shall give the Firefighter Driver a thorough orientation on:
  • The Driver’s role in the safe operation of the vehicle or apparatus and responsibility to safeguard TFD crewmembers and the public
  • The Officer’s expectations of the Firefighter Driver on incident responses and routine business
  • Explanation of expected level of attitude, performance and behavior
  • Explanation of the FF/Driver 28 shift syllabus as needed

Education and Evaluation Topics for Driver

The Officer, In-charge Firefighter/Paramedic shall educate and evaluate the apparatus Driver on:

• Perform and document the TFD “Cones Course Driver Evaluation” one time Copies can be printed from the FireWeb in Policy 5034: EVAP, pages 7 and 8. A date and time should be scheduled at the Training Center to perform this drill.
• Perform and document the TFD “District Course/Road Test” a minimum of three times Copies can be printed from the Fire Web in Policy 5034: EVAP, pages 9 and 10.
• The driver shall read Safety Policy 5006, 5009 and 5034
• The Officer shall enter completed drills and reading assignments into training tracker and forward an e-mail outlining the driver's performance by the end of each shift If e-mail documentation is not received, an extension of this syllabus may be required and it should be sent to the driver's Battalion Chief with CC to Administrative Battalion Chief for Safety.
• This outline shall include:
  • Number of priority incidents driven
  • Number of routine incidents driven
  • Number of business trips out of station i.e. driving to Training Center, FCC, supplies, etc.
  • Evaluation of that shifts driving drills
• Additionally, the outline shall also contain a brief overall synopsis of the driver’s driving performance for the shift

Shift Eight through Fourteen

Responsibilities of Officer, In-charge Firefighter/Paramedic

• Shall educate and evaluate the apparatus Driver
• Perform and document the TFD “Cones Course Driver Evaluation” one time; copies can be printed from the FireWeb in Policy 5034: EVAP, pages 7 and 8, and a date and time should be scheduled at the Training Center to perform this drill
• Perform and document the TFD “District Course/Road Test” a minimum of three times; copies can be printed from the Fire Web in Policy 5034: EVAP, pages 9 and 10
• Review Safety Policy 5007
• The Officer shall enter completed drills and reading assignments into training tracker and forward an e-mail outlining the driver’s performance by the end of each shift and sent to the driver’s Battalion Chief with CC to Administrative Battalion Chief for Safety
  • The outline shall include:
    • Number of priority incidents driven
    • Number of routine incidents driven
    • Number of business trips out of station i.e. driving to Training Center, FCC, supplies, etc.
    • Evaluation of that shifts driving drills
  • The outline shall also contain a brief overall synopsis of the driver’s driving performance for the shift

Shift Fifteen through Twenty-One

Responsibilities of Officer, In-charge Firefighter/Paramedic

• Educate and evaluate the apparatus Driver
• Perform and document the TFD “Cones Course Driver Evaluation” one time copies can be printed from the FireWeb in Policy 5034: EVAP, pages 7 and 8 and a date and time should be scheduled at the Training Center to perform this drill
• Perform and document the TFD “District Course/Road Test” a minimum of three times copies can be printed from the Fire Web in Policy 5034: EVAP, pages 9 and 10.
• The driver shall read Safety Policy 5031
• Record drills in training tracker and forward an email outlining the driver's performance to the Battalion Chief and Administrative Battalion Chief for Safety
  • The email outline to include:
    • Number of priority incidents driven
    • Number of routine incidents driven
    • Number of business trips out of station i.e. driving to Training Center, FCC, supplies, etc.
    • Evaluation of that shifts driving drills e- The outline shall also contain a general brief overall synopsis of the driver’s driving performance for the shift

Shift Twenty-Two through Twenty Eight

Responsibilities of Officer, In-charge Firefighter/Paramedic

Educate and evaluate the apparatus Driver perform and document the TFD “Cones Course Driver Evaluation” one time copies can be printed from the FireWeb in Policy 5034: EVAP, pages 7 and 8 a date and time should be scheduled at the Training Center to perform this drill

• Perform and document the TFD "District Course/Road Test” a minimum of three times
  • Copies can be printed from the Fire Web in Policy 5034: EVAP, pages 9 and 10
• The driver shall review Safety Policies 5006, 5007 & 5034
• Record drills in training tracker include:
  • Number of priority incidents driven
  • Number of routine incidents driven
  • Number of business trips out of station i.e. driving to Training Center, FCC, supplies, etc.
  • Evaluation of that shifts driving drills
• The outline shall also contain a general brief overall synopsis of the driver’s driving performance for the shift

Battalion Chief’s Recommendation

• On or about the twenty-eight shift, the driver’s Battalion Chief shall make a final review of the driver’s performance and make a final recommendation to the Safety Office as to whether full driving privileges should or should not be reinstated
• Route this syllabus and any other supporting documentation to the Safety Office upon completion