TFD Policy 5031: Traffic Safety

• TFD Policy 5031 outlines safety practices to protect TFD personnel near moving traffic at incident scenes.
• Applies to ALL TFD personnel.
• The policy replaces Traffic Work Zones policy dated November 2001.

Responsibilities

• The Administrative Battalion Chief for Safety is responsible for maintaining this document.
• Incident Commanders are responsible for ensuring overall personnel safety, enforcing safety policies, ensuring proper PPE use, assigning an Incident Safety Officer, and coordinating with law enforcement.
• Incident Safety Officers are responsible for ensuring a protected work zone, monitoring traffic, and assisting with PPE compliance.
• All TFD personnel must know and execute safety policies for traffic work zones.

Definitions

• Advance Warning: Visual indication to warn motorists of roadway hazards.
• ALS: Advanced Life Support.
• Ambulance: A private ALS or BLS unit assisting in patient transport.
• Apparatus: Mobile TFD firefighting or specialized equipment.
• Block: Positioning a vehicle at an angle to protect the incident scene.
• Buffer Zone: Safe space between the work zone and moving traffic.
• Downstream: Area where traffic flow leaves a roadway incident.
• Emergent Traffic Zones: Operation areas on or near active roadways, including accidents, fires, downed power lines, and brush fires.
• Patient Loading Zone: Area behind a medic unit or ambulance for patient loading.
• PPE: Personal Protective Equipment.
• Upstream: Area where traffic flow approaches a roadway incident.
• Work Zone: Safe area for personnel, medics and patient loading.

General Guidelines

• Incident Commanders evaluate and control traffic flow, coordinate with law enforcement, and remove personnel/equipment promptly.
• Personnel must protect themselves first, then the scene, operating defensively, maintaining awareness and never trusting moving traffic.

Clothing Guidelines

• High visibility/reflective vests are required on TFD apparatus.
• Personnel in emergent traffic zones must wear structural firefighting helmets.
• Firefighting PPE is required for activities involving fire suppression or extrication.
• High visibility/reflective vests and helmets are required when not wearing structural PPE.
• Personnel may wear high visibility/reflective vests over structural PPE.
• Uniforms alone are not sufficient in traffic zones.
• Orange high-visibility vests are prohibited when actively fighting fires.
• Department-issued uniform service coats with reflective striping alone are not adequate.

Apparatus Positioning

• First arriving apparatus must be in a block position with wheels turned away from the work zone.
• Position apparatus at a minimum 45-degree angle to upstream traffic at a sufficient distance to prevent intrusion into the work zone.
• In intersections or middle of roadways, attempt to block all exposed sides.
• Prioritize blocking the closest, highest speed, and highest volume approaching traffic.
• Park with the pump panel downstream and on the opposite side of oncoming traffic for hose line needs, following TFD policy 5006.
• Park medic units and ambulances to position the patient loading zone within a protected work zone.
• Angle downstream ambulances in a block position if needed.
• Park medic units and ambulances in driveways at residential emergencies.

Freeway Operations

• Number freeway lanes from right to left facing the direction of travel.
• Incident Commanders must evaluate the need for apparatus, specify parking locations, coordinate with authorities, manage termination carefully, and promptly return unneeded apparatus.
• The first arriving company parks in a block position.
• The second arriving company creates a buffer zone 150 to 200 feet upstream.
• Park remaining apparatus downstream if possible.
• Stage medic units and ambulances as needed.
• Park medic units and ambulances to establish a safe patient loading zone downstream of the blocking apparatus.
• TFD personnel cannot remain in an open freeway lane outside the protected work zone.

Safety Guidelines in Emergent Traffic Zones

• Stop traffic flow or reduce it to a safe pace if personnel safety is compromised.
• Incident Commanders evaluate and communicate escape routes.
• Reduce flashing light use to minimize vision impairment for motorists.
• Provide specific directions for traffic control to law enforcement.
• Designate an Incident Safety Officer to warn personnel.
• The first arriving company places traffic cones to direct traffic.
• Place traffic cones a minimum of 150 feet upstream of the blocking apparatus to delineate a buffer zone.
• Place traffic cones to designate the protected work zone.
• Expand traffic cone placement as needed.
• Consider using flares with traffic cones at night or in poor weather.
• Do not use flares near flammable gas or liquid spills.
• Increase initial traffic cone distances based on weather conditions.
• Look before exiting apparatus, exit on the curb side when possible, walk close to apparatus, stop and look before proceeding around apparatus, and face oncoming traffic while placing/retrieving cones and flares.
• Personnel must never turn their back on moving traffic while placing or retrieving cones and flares.