Transcript Emergency Vehicle Accident Prevention

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
•Perception / Recognition
•Situational Awareness
•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.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Advance Warning Area
Transition Area
Activity Area
Buffer Space
Termination Area
Temporary Traffic Control Zone
Advance Warning Area
• 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.
Temporary Traffic Control Zone
Transition 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 also includes your Buffer Space
Temporary Traffic Control Zone
Buffer Space
• Separates traffic from your work area.
• Also provides some recovery area for an errant vehicle.
• 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.
• Should include its own Buffer Space.
Component Parts
of a
Temporary Traffic
Control Zone
Flagger
AID
Flagger
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Vehicle near the
shoulder
- - Block as much of
the traffic lane as
necessary for
emergency worker
safety
Vehicle near the
shoulder
- - Consider moving
the vehicle off the
roadway if it can
be done safely
Flagger
Flagger
AID
SHOULDER AREA
Vehicles on both
shoulders
- - Use all available
resources to
control traffic
AID
Flagger
AID
Flagger
Move vehicles off
the roadway if it
can be safely
done.
Diagram #6
Vehicles on a
curve
- - Allow for plenty of
Advance Warning
Flagger
AID
Flagger
Polic
Intersection
Incident
- - Use all available
resources for TTC
Zone for personnel
safety
e
AID
Po
lic
e
Po
lic
e
Protect the scene
with your vehicles
- - Use trained
personell to direct
traffic as
necessary
Diagram #4
Freeway Incident
- - Consider use of
DOT to assist in
traffic control
AID
AID
Freeway Incident
- - Consider use of
DOT to assist in
traffic control
AID
AID
Vehicles blocking
all lanes
- - For emergency
personnel safety,
block the roadway.
Flagger
AID
Flagger
Diagram #1
Traffic may be rerouted along the
shoulder if it is
safe to do so and
there are enough
resources on
scene to facilitate
this TTC Zone.
Traffic Control Devices
• Used to warn or guide road users
• Provides for the orderly movement of traffic
Traffic Control Devices
Should meet 5 basic requirements:
• Fulfill a need
• Command attention
• Convey a clear, simple meaning
• Command respect from road users
• 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
Placement of Traffic Control Devices
Your apparatus is also a traffic control device
Placement of Apparatus
• Place within the Activity Area
• Uniform and consistent with other traffic control
devices
Placement of Apparatus
• Physical protection
•
•
•
barrier to secondary
collisions
Protection of the pump
operator
Protection of the crews
Protection of the
citizens
Placement of Apparatus
Fire engines and other large apparatus
• Park at a 45 degree angle
• Exposes more surface area to absorb an impact
from an errant vehicle
• Provides a “wall” of protection
Placement of Apparatus
Transport vehicles
• Park within the Activity Area
• Downstream or in the shadow of the fire engine
Placement of Apparatus
Transport vehicles
• Downstream:
• Parallel with traffic
• Ease of loading
gurney into vehicle
• Clear access to
roadway when
leaving for transport
Placement of Apparatus
When the fire engine is to be staffed with a pump
operator/engineer
Park at a 45
degree angle
with the pump
panel (drivers
side) facing the
Activity Area
Night Time Visibility
At the incident scene
Common misconception:
The more warning lights that are flashing, the better we
can be seen
Night Time Visibility
At the incident scene
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
Night Time Visibility
At the incident scene
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
Night Time Visibility
At the incident scene
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
Night Time Visibility
At the incident scene
Turn off all unnecessary
headlights when parked
at the scene
Night Time Visibility
At the incident scene
Use vehicle mounted floodlights to light the scene
• Provides a safer working environment
• Reduces distraction to traffic drivers caused by warning
•
•
lights
Do not aim the floodlights into the path of traffic
drivers
Ensure the floodlighting does not produce a disabling
glare to traffic
Night Time Visibility
At the incident scene
Use vehicle mounted floodlights to light the scene
Key Elements
of
Personnel Safety
Training
• Practice traffic safety risk assessments
• 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
• Visibility of personnel is increased during
daylight hours with the use of a high visibility
vest
• 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