Operating_on_Roadway_Incidents.pdf

Procedure 409 Chesapeake Fire Department Fire Procedure Manual Copyright Lexipol, LLC 2023/03/25, All Rights Reserved.Published with permission by Chesapeake Fire Department Operating on Roadway Incidents - 1 Operating on Roadway Incidents 409.1 PURPOSE AND SCOPE This document provides guid...

Procedure 409 Chesapeake Fire Department Fire Procedure Manual Copyright Lexipol, LLC 2023/03/25, All Rights Reserved.Published with permission by Chesapeake Fire Department Operating on Roadway Incidents - 1 Operating on Roadway Incidents 409.1 PURPOSE AND SCOPE This document provides guidance to establish and maintain a safe working environment for all personnel who respond to and work at scenes on, or in close proximity to roadways. 409.2 PROCEDURE It is the policy of the Chesapeake Fire Department that all members shall maintain a defensive posture and heightened sense of situational awareness while involved in operations on or near roadways. Members will take reasonable measures to protect responders and equipment by using tactics that facilitate safe and organized operations at these scenes. 409.3 ROADWAY SCENE There are several things, which can be done to provide the safest possible work environment. Personnel should use whatever means necessary within reason to provide for a safe working environment. Personnel must understand that even when all protective measures are in place "roadway scenes" are still extremely dangerous places to work. (a) Establish and use the incident command system on every incident. Command must account for all personnel working at scene and should follow the guideline for scene set up and safety for operating on roadways. (b) Personnel are to wear reflective clothing on all roadway scenes. One of the following is required: 1. Reflective vest and helmet 2. Turnout gear coat and helmet or complete turnout gear with helmet. 3. Reflective vest is to be worn over turnout gear when SCBA is not in use. 4. It will be the officer's discretion on what level of PPE will be required based upon the scene and the circumstances. (c) Develop a safe work area; personnel must be aware of the five components of an accident scene. All five of these components should be established as soon as possible at all incident scenes: 1. Advance warning area 2. Transition area 3. Buffer space 4. Work Space 5. Termination area Chesapeake Fire Department Fire Procedure Manual Operating on Roadway Incidents Copyright Lexipol, LLC 2023/03/25, All Rights Reserved.Published with permission by Chesapeake Fire Department Operating on Roadway Incidents - 2 Chesapeake Fire Department Fire Procedure Manual Operating on Roadway Incidents Copyright Lexipol, LLC 2023/03/25, All Rights Reserved.Published with permission by Chesapeake Fire Department Operating on Roadway Incidents - 3 409.3.1 ADVANCE WARNING AREA The area set up to warn oncoming traffic of incident scene and danger ahead. This is the motorist first warning of an incident. Warning signs, traffic cones, and/or police cars must be placed by using the following table, when possible. • Low speed / Urban roads (25-35 mph) 300 feet from transition area • Moderate speed / Rural roads (35-45 mph) 1000 feet from transition area • High speed / Freeways (45-65 mph) 5000 feet from transition area 409.3.2 TRANSITION AREA The area used to assist oncoming traffic in navigating the incident scene. Show them were you want them to go. • Cone placement • Vehicle directional lighting (arrows) • Apparatus placement 409.3.3 BUFFER SPACE The area used to protect work area, barriers such as large apparatus and other blocking vehicles are placed in this area; such as VDOT trucks, police cars, public works units, etc. Vehicles or other barriers are to be used as protective barrier between personnel and traffic when possible. This can often be accomplished by properly spotting vehicles upon arrival at the scene. The proper spotting of vehicles along with the use of traffic cones is essential in developing a safe work area. When spotting apparatus, drivers should angle vehicle to protect themselves from the traffic. Pumping apparatus should be placed with pump panel protected. Other vehicles should be angled to protect tool access areas or vehicle entry and exit areas. Once the vehicle is spotted and at a complete stop the driver must turn front tires to 45¬degree angle (as far as possible) away from scene. This will prevent the apparatus from entering the safe work area if struck from behind. The following may be used for blocking to develop a safe work area: • Fire apparatus • Law enforcement vehicles • Concrete barriers • Other vehicles involved in or at scene • Traffic barricades Command as well as other personnel on scene should constantly be aware of changes to safety barriers, for example, law enforcement vehicle or ambulance leaves scene. Safe work area must be maintained until command determines it is no longer necessary. Chesapeake Fire Department Fire Procedure Manual Operating on Roadway Incidents Copyright Lexipol, LLC 2023/03/25, All Rights Reserved.Published with permission by Chesapeake Fire Department Operating on Roadway Incidents - 4 409.3.4 WORK SPACE The area containing the incident scene, vehicles, patients, equipment. Command needs to develop as safe of work space as possible. • Fire apparatus with extrication equipment should be placed at the upstream end of the work space. This will allow for access to equipment and blocking. • Transport units should be placed at the downstream end of the work space. 409.3.5 TERMINATION AREA The area where traffic returns to normal. • Area prone for secondary accidents • Drivers accelerate to make up for long time navigating the incident • EMS vehicles leaving the scene may need assistance Note: VDOT and/or City Traffic Control may be utilized for some of these functions. 409.4 PROCEDURE (a) Scene / work areas should be properly lit. Be aware of the possibility of scene lights blinding traffic: • Vehicles with special lighting • Ambulance scene lights • Vehicle headlights and spot lights • Hand lights and portables • Law enforcement vehicles (b) Other considerations: • Assign personnel to a traffic safety / watch sector • Request additional companies to the scene, to assist in traffic control and scene safety • Consider limiting the number of emergency lights. Research has found that colored strobes, revolving beacons, and a multitude of brilliant flashing lights may: o Blind motorist o Attract impaired (drunk, drugged, or dozing) motorist o Studies have also shown that out of control motorist will steer towards a focus point such as the bright lights of an incident scene (c) Develop an escape plan: • Personnel should maintain awareness to traffic and prepare an escape plan to a safe area in the event of a secondary collision Chesapeake Fire Department Fire Procedure Manual Operating on Roadway Incidents Copyright Lexipol, LLC 2023/03/25, All Rights Reserved.Published with permission by Chesapeake Fire Department Operating on Roadway Incidents - 5 • Personnel should avoid or at least be aware of situations in which there is no avenue of escape to a safe area away from traffic • Safe areas would include: o Between concrete barriers o In front of Fire apparatus- away from traffic o Concrete bridge structures and concrete culverts. (d) Develop a de-commit plan. Command must monitor and control the dismantling of the scene. Plan to remove personnel, apparatus, victims, bystanders and vehicles safely from scene. (e) Considerations while removing personnel and apparatus from scene: • Ambulance leaving scene with or without traffic control • Dismantling your safe work area • Blocking apparatus leave the scene • Picking up traffic cones safely (f) Personnel must realize as incident terminates conditions change: • Safe area many no longer be intact • Frustrated drivers increase speed to make up for lost time • Frustrated drivers enter gaps in safe work area • Vehicles, i.e. ambulances, leaving scene may be too busy watching traffic to see personnel on scene