Cleveland Division of Fire Standard Operating Procedure for Motor Vehicle Accidents PDF

CLEVELAND DIVISION OF FIRE STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURE NUMBER: 6 CLASS: S.O.P. DATE: January 16, 2023 SUBJECT: OPERATIONAL PROCEDURES FOR MOTOR VEHICLE ACCIDENTS PURPOSE The intent of this SOP is to create a safer roadway for responders and motorists during a Motor Vehicle Accident (MVA) inciden...

CLEVELAND DIVISION OF FIRE STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURE NUMBER: 6 CLASS: S.O.P. DATE: January 16, 2023 SUBJECT: OPERATIONAL PROCEDURES FOR MOTOR VEHICLE ACCIDENTS PURPOSE The intent of this SOP is to create a safer roadway for responders and motorists during a Motor Vehicle Accident (MVA) incident by identifying specific guidelines for responding Division of Fire units. 1. POLICY 1.1. All Division of Fire apparatus shall respond and position the apparatus in a manner that best protects Division of Fire personnel and the incident scene. All members of the Division shall wear the appropriate PPE for the incident as outlined in this order and maintain situational awareness anytime they are operating in, or near, moving traffic. 2. SIZE UP AND INITIAL ACTIONS 2.1. Upon arrival, the officer in charge of the first arriving unit shall provide a detailed description of the incident and request the necessary resources from dispatch. 2.2. The officer shall immediately size up the traffic concerns and place their apparatus in a position that provides initial scene safety. The priority is to block oncoming traffic before attempting to mitigate the emergency. Initial positioning can be changed based on need and/or resources available. 2.2.1. Regardless of traffic controls already in place from other agencies, the goal is to place physical barriers in the form of fire apparatus between moving traffic and all working areas of the MVA. A physical barrier is the best protection against drivers who are distracted, impaired or willfully driving through the accident scene. Use hard barriers no matter how secure the scene appears. S.O.P. #6 2.2.1.1. Pylons, flares, flashlights, and hand signals are not hard barriers and will not deter inattentive, impaired, or willfully negligent drivers from entering the work area. Even attentive drivers may enter the work area inadvertently in inclement weather. 2.2.1.2. Debris removal, absorbent spreading, etc. outside of the blocked work area shall not be performed without the physical protection of a blocking emergency vehicle which may also include CDP or other agencies on scene. Page 1 of 7 January 16, 2023 2.2.2. For split scenes where vehicles are spread across several lanes of traffic or over an extended distance, company officers shall ensure that members do not cross lanes of traffic that have not been physically blocked. This may cause a delay in patient care for vehicles outside of the initial blocking area. Risk management principles shall be used to determine if the life hazard to patients outside of the blocking area justifies crossing lanes that have not been blocked with a physical barrier. 3. MITIGATION STRATEGIES 3.1. Move-It - Moving vehicles involved in an accident to a secondary location before being worked. 3.1.1. Company officers shall make every attempt to remove the involved vehicles from traffic and reduce the risk of exposure to passing vehicles. Safety of personnel and involved occupants is the number one priority. 3.1.2. Prior to moving any vehicle in a Move-It situation, the fire officer shall investigate the incident area considering the area of impact and the debris field distribution. The fire officer should be prepared to provide a detailed report to the responding CPD officers. 3.1.3. Drivers involved in minor accidents not requiring medical attention shall be encouraged to exchange information and drive to the nearest police station to file a report. 3.2. Work It - A situation where the vehicles involved cannot be moved to a secondary location before being worked. 3.2.1. Company officers may initiate a tow response by providing number of vehicles, if flatbed needed, and if the vehicle is on wheels, or flipped over. 3.3. Any report of entrapment requires the response of a Battalion Chief and a Technical Rescue unit. The main responsibility of the Battalion Chief is to coordinate rescue activities. If extrication is completed prior to the BC’s arrival, the BC’s response may be discontinued. 4. PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT 4.1. When the nature of the incident requires the member to work in or near moving traffic on type of roadway, the following PPE shall be worn: 4.1.1. High visibility safety vests. If a member prefers to wear a structural turnout coat due to inclement weather or is required to wear structural turnout gear due to duties assigned at the incident scene, the high visibility safety vest must be donned over the turnout coat. S.O.P. #6 Page 2 of 7 January 16, 2023 4.1.2. Structural fire helmet with chin strap properly donned. 4.1.3. Protective Footwear. Structural bunker pants and boots may be worn in lieu of standard protective footwear. 4.1.4. Appropriate gloves for the incident. Leather, latex or in combination. 4.2. EXCEPTIONS 4.2.1. Structural PPE and SCBA must be donned to work in close proximity to a source of heat. i.e., suppression of a vehicle fire. 4.2.2. Donning hazardous material PPE to avoid potential exposure to chemicals or other contaminants. 4.2.3. During technical rescue activities such as extrication. 4.2.4. Members who complete the above listed activities and leave the immediate work area requiring the exception are required to don the high visibility safety vest immediately. 5. TEMPORARY TRAFFIC CONTROL ZONE (TTC) 5.1. A TTC zone should be established to inform traffic of the incident and to provide guidance on the path to follow through the incident area. This TTC zone is divided into 4 areas and extends from the first warning device to a point where vehicles return to the original lane alignment and are clear of the incident. 5.1.1. Advance Warning Area: Informs drivers of the upcoming incident area. 5.1.2. Transition Area: Moves traffic out of its normal path. 5.1.3. Activity Area: Zone where the incident takes place. 5.1.4. Termination Area: Returns traffic to its normal path. 5.2. Traffic should be directed to the left or right of the incident scene. Traffic should not be allowed to pass on both sides of the incident. 5.3. For the advanced warning area, pylons and cones are typically set up outside the protection of physical barriers and should only be considered if other means are not available. Coordinate with CDP patrol cars, ODOT safety patrol or other fire apparatus if necessary to set up the advanced warning area. S.O.P. #6 Page 3 of 7 January 16, 2023 6. Apparatus Placement on Limited Access Highways 6.1. The following placement procedures are guidelines. Apparatus positioning may vary based on operational needs. All officers must use their judgment in positioning the apparatus in a way that will provide the highest degree of safety for all personnel operating on the scene. 6.2. Using a Lane +1 blocking position, the apparatus should be placed at a 45-degree angle to the road to block at least one additional traffic lane more than already obstructed by the incident. The shoulder of the highway is considered a lane. This is a critical factor in the prevention of “squeeze through” incidents. 6.2.1. The Engine Company should position their apparatus 25 feet (previously 50-75 ft.) prior to the incident at a 45-degree angle. If the situation requires the use of a hand line and the Ladder Company is delayed, the OIC must consider positioning the apparatus to protect the Pump Operator from traffic. 6.2.2. The position of the Ladder Company will vary depending on the situation. (i.e., blind curve, just over a hill, poor weather conditions, heavy traffic, etc.) When possible, the Ladder Company should be positioned 50 feet prior to the incident (previously 100 ft.). 6.2.3. Technical Rescue should position their apparatus past the incident scene. If they are the first arriving unit, they should position the apparatus as the initial blocker. 6.2.4. Additional units arriving on scene will be placed in front of the Ladder Company within the safe operating area. 6.2.5. The blocking apparatus should direct traffic towards the flow pattern. 6.2.6. The wheels should be turned away from incident. 6.3. CEMS VEHICLES 6.3.1. CEMS ambulances are to be directed to position their apparatus within the established safe work zone downstream of the vehicles involved in the accident. 6.4. LIMITED VISIBILITY 6.4.1. Blind curves, hills, and poor weather provide limited visibility. This may require calling for an additional apparatus to block if an apparatus from the initial response is parked well upstream of the incident scene to provide advance warning. S.O.P. #6 Page 4 of 7 January 16, 2023 6.5. SPLIT-SCENE INCIDENTS 6.5.1. MVA’s that span across multiple lanes may require highway closure through FDC. Members shall not cross highway lanes that have not been physically blocked. Patient care should be limited to the areas blocked by the apparatus already on scene. 6.5.2. MVA’s over an extended distance with multiple vehicles that span downstream over 100 feet should be treated as separate MVA’s and additional apparatus should be requested to block. Members shall not walk downstream along the shoulders to check on occupants. 6.5.3. Initial responding apparatus may split up to provide a 45-degree blocker to both incidents by coordinating with FDC and responding units. 6.6. OFF-HIGHWAY INCIDENTS 6.6.1. Incidents in the grassy medians dividing highways are vulnerable to traffic from both sides of the highway due to the absence of concrete dividers. Position sufficient apparatus to block the most likely path of vehicles leaving the highway and entering the incident scene. 6.6.2. Incidents in the grassy areas beyond the outside shoulders are still vulnerable to traffic leaving the highway. Position apparatus to block against the most likely path of vehicles leaving the highway and entering the incident scene. 7. EMERGENCY SCENE PROTOCOLS 7.1. MVA’s require a 3-apparatus response, a truck, an engine, and a rescue squad. If a rescue squad is not available, then an additional engine shall be assigned. 7.2. LADDER COMPANY 7.2.1. Ladder Company officer shall assume Safety Officer duties and initiate extrication as required. 7.3. ENGINE COMPANY 7.3.1. Perform suppression activities as required. Unless there is a direct life safety issue, blocking and scene safety is a priority over suppression. Suppression should commence after additional apparatus have arrived to provide blocking and ensure scene safety. 7.4. RESCUE SQUAD 7.4.1. Extrication as required. S.O.P. #6 Page 5 of 7 January 16, 2023 7.5. ALL UNITS 7.5.1. Assist with blocking, patient care, suppression, extrication, debris removal and Safety Officer duties as required. 7.5.2. The Incident Commander shall not remove vehicles from the roadway or disturb any evidence in instances of a fatality, criminal activity, or major injury. Washing down or sweeping up the accident scene may destroy evidence. The Incident Commander shall consult with the on-scene Cleveland Police as to whether it is appropriate to proceed with any actions in clearing the incident scene. 7.6. SAFETY OFFICER 7.6.1. Ensure apparatus are in a proper blocking position. 7.6.2. Ensure appropriate PPE is being worn. 7.6.3. Direct placement of additional responding units. 7.6.4. Guide operations in establishing the Advanced Warning Area. Coordinate with CDP to place patrol cars in Advanced Warning Area. Either direct, or prohibit, placement of cones and flares outside of protected activity area based on risk benefit analysis. 8. RADIO COMMUNICATIONS 8.1. All units responding to a Motor Vehicle Accident shall monitor Main Dispatch and the First Responder Channel for direct communications with CEMS and other responding Fire units. 8.2. When a Battalion Chief is dispatched to a Motor Vehicle Accident incident, units shall continue to use the First Responder Channel for communications. The BC may request a TAC channel to coordinate rescue activities. 8.3. All communications with Cleveland Police shall go through Fire Dispatch. S.O.P. #6 Page 6 of 7 January 16, 2023 By Order Of: Anthony P. Luke Cleveland Division of Fire S.O.P. #6 Page 7 of 7 January 16, 2023