Presque Isle Fire Department ... A Fire Rescue membe

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At Scene TRAFFIC SAFETY
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Special Thanks

• Freeport Fire Department
• Maine Dept. of Transportation
• Maine Municipal Association
• Presque Isle Fire Department

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Missouri EMT Struck and Killed at Scene
            New Jersey Firefighter Killed by
Suspected Drunk Driver
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Overview

• The training also identifies parking practices
  for
• Fire Rescue Apparatus
• Emergency Vehicles
• Provide maximum protection and safety for
  personnel operating in or near moving vehicle
  traffic.
• Practices to keep personnel safe

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Objectives

• Maine Law
• MUTCD
• Liability
• Duration of Incidents
• Parts of a traffic control zone
• Proper devices
• Firefighter Dos and Don'ts

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Maine Law29-A, MRSA 2091

• Enacted as PL 2005 Ch. 167 under LD 1337
• Defines a public safety traffic flagger
• Specifies training requirements
• Defines authority necessary apparel
• Explains registered owners liability

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Public Safety Traffic Flagger

• A municipal firefighter, a volunteer
  firefighter, or a member of an emergency medical
  service licensed by the Dept. of Public Safety,
  MEMS who is trained in accordance with subsection
  2 and authorized by the chief official of the
  fire department or emergency medical service to
  control vehicular traffic

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Subsection 2--- training

• all PSTFs must receive training approved by the
  Dept. of Labor, Bureau of Labor Standards in
  controlling traffic on public ways. Training may
  consist of video instruction, instruction in a
  classroom, distribution of informational
  handbooks, or other educational materials or
  other training materials.

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Subsection 3--- authority

• .. a PSTF shall wear a reflective traffic vest
  or protective clothing as defined in 26 MRSA
  2103(3), and has the authority to control
  vehicular traffic on a public way at or to
  reroute vehicular traffic around a public safety
  emergency, accident, fire., unless otherwise
  directed by a law enforcement officer.

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Subsection 4 obeying the flagger

• .. an operator of a motor vehicle on a public
  way shall obey a request or signal of a person
  who is reasonable identifiable as a PSTF. A
  violation is a traffic violation.

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Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD)

• NOT State law.but it is the national standard
  for all traffic control
• Federal law 23 CFR 655.603 adopts the MUTCD as
  the national standard for all traffic control
  devices installed on any street, highway, or
  bicycle trail open to public travel.
• The MUTCD describes the application of traffic
  control devices, but shall not be a legal
  requirement for their installation.

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Intermediate Traffic Incidents

• Expected duration of 30 minutes to 2 hours.
• Diverting traffic past the blockage.
• Using a Detour for a short duration.
• Be aware of your visibility to oncoming traffic

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Minor Traffic Incidents

• Expected duration under 30 minutes
• Typically disabled vehicles and fender benders
• Diversion of traffic to other lanes is not needed
  or only needed briefly.
• If blocking a lane, move it to the shoulder as
  quickly as possible

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Responder Safety Considerations

• Training all responders directing traffic shall
  be trained.
• Worker Clothing Responders exposed to the risks
  of moving traffic shall wear hi-visibility safety
  apparel meeting ANSI 107-1999.
• Temp. traffic barriers depends on type and
  length of the emergency, traffic volume speed,
  time of day, type of road
• Speed reduction Emergency Responders, lane
  restrictions, etc.

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Liability Exposures

• In addition to providing protection and safety
  for emergency personnel other considerations are
• Through our actions, not causing or contributing
  to
• Injury to the public
• Damage to other vehicles
• Damage to property

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Maine Tort Claims Act

• The Maine Tort Claims Act addresses Entity
  Liability. The Rule (Sovereign Immunity) The
  City/Town is immune.
• City/Town Immunity Waived Immunity may be
  waived under certain circumstances such as the
  ownership, maintenance and use of equipment or
  the construction or repair of streets, operation
  and use of public buildings.

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Maine Tort Claims Act Cont

• Immunity that overrides waiver If a City/Town
  losses immunity in a waived category it may get
  it back if the acts are
• Legislative Acts
• Judicial Acts
• Discretionary Function
• Decision not to provide certain services
• Prosecutorial Acts
• Leasing Government property to others

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Maine Tort Claims Act Cont

• An employee has no automatic immunity like a
  City/Town does. There is a 10,000 damage limit.
  City/Town must defend.
• Employee actions may get immunity discretionary
  functions (such as making a decision on how to
  control traffic.
• Control of traffic at an emergency scene can
  reasonably be considered a Discretionary Function.

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Discretionary Function

• Is the defendant an employee of a governmental
  entity?
• Are the defendants actions reasonably
  encompassed by his employment duties as defined
  by job description, policy, ordinance or statute?

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Discretionary Function Cont

• Does the challenged act necessarily involve a
  basic governmental policy or objective?
• Is the questioned act essential to the
  realization or accomplishment of that policy or
  objective?
• Does the act require the exercise of judgment and
  expertise?
• Does the employee possess lawful authority to do
  the challenged act?
• Egregious conduct exceeds scope of discretionary
  function immunity.

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Terminology

• Advance Warning
• Block
• Buffer Zone
• Downstream
• Flagger

• Shadow
• Taper
• Temporary Work Zone
• Transition Zone
• Upstream

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Advance Warning

• Notification procedures that advises approaching
  motorist to transition from normal driving status
  to that required by the temporary emergency
  traffic control measures ahead.

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Block

• Positioning Fire Rescue on an angle to the lanes
  of traffic creating a physical barrier between
  upstream traffic and the work area.
• Includes
• Block to the Left
• Block to the Right

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Block

• To the Left

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Buffer Zone

• The distance or space between personnel and
  vehicles in the protected work zone and nearby
  moving traffic
• Turn your wheels so that a vehicle hitting from
  behind will not send your vehicle into the work
  area.

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Downstream

• The direction that traffic is moving as it
  travels away from the incident scene.

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Flagger

• A Fire Rescue member assigned to monitor
  approaching traffic and activate an emergency
  signal if the actions of a motorist do not
  conform to traffic control measures

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Shadow

• Protected area at a vehicle related roadway
  incident that is shielded by the block from
  apparatus

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Taper

• Action of merging several lanes of moving traffic
  to fewer lanes of moving traffic

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Temporary Work Zone

• The area of roadway within which emergency
  perform their Fire/EMS tasks at a vehicle related
  incident.

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Transition Zone

• Lanes of a roadway within which approaching
  motorist change their speed and position to
  comply with traffic control measures at an
  incident scene

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Upstream

• The direction that traffic is traveling from as
  the vehicles approach the incident scene.

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Apparatus Emergency Vehicle Benchmarks

• Always position first arriving apparatus to
  protect scene, patients and emergency personnel.
• Positioning of fire apparatus must create a safe
  parking area for EMS units.

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Apparatus Emergency Vehicle Benchmarks

• When blocking with apparatus to protect the
  scene, establish a sufficient size work zone that
  includes (Shadow)
• Damaged vehicles
• Roadway debris
• Patient triage and treatment area
• Operating personnel, equipment and patients

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Apparatus Emergency Vehicle Benchmarks

• Ambulances should be positioned within the
  protected work area with their rear patient
  loading door area angled away from the nearest
  lanes of moving traffic
• Command shall stage unneeded emergency vehicles
  off the roadway or in a staging area

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Apparatus Emergency Vehicle Benchmarks

• At all intersections or where the incident may
  be near the middle of the roadway, two or more
  sides of the incident may need to be protected.

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Apparatus Emergency Vehicle Benchmarks

• Where a charged hoseline may be needed, block so
  the the pump panel is downstream to protect the
  pump operator

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Apparatus Emergency Vehicle Benchmarks

• Traffic cones shall be deployed from the rear of
  the blocking apparatus toward approaching traffic
• Personnel shall place and retrieve cones while
  facing oncoming traffic
• Cones shall be deployed at 15-foot intervals
  upstream of the blocking apparatus

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Apparatus Emergency Vehicle Benchmarks

• Emergency Scene Ahead signs shall be deployed at
  all roadway incidents, prior to the furthest cone.

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Incident Command Benchmarks

• The initial-arriving officer or member, and or
  Incident Commander must complete critical
  benchmarks to assure that a safe and protected
  work environment for emergency scene personnel is
  established.

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Incident Command Benchmarks

• Assure that the first arriving apparatus
  establishes an initial block
• Assign parking location for all ambulances.
• Lanes shall be identified numerically as
  Breakdown, Lane 1, Lane 2.
• Typically, vehicles travel a lower speed in the
  lower number lanes

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Incident Command Benchmarks

• Assign parking location for all ambulances.
• Directions Right Left shall be as identified
  as from the approaching motorist point of view
• Instruct ambulance to block to the left or right
  to protect rear patient loading area.

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Incident Command Benchmarks

• Assure that all ambulances on scene are placed
  within the protected work area. (Shadow)
• Assure that all patient loading into ambulances
  is done from within the protected work zone
• Operate as or assign a Scene Safety Officer
• Assure all traffic emitter devices are turned off.

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Emergency Crew Personnel Benchmarks

• Always maintain an acute awareness of the high
  risk of working in or near moving traffic
• Never trust moving traffic
• Always look before you move(look both ways)
• NEVER turn your back to moving traffic.
• Exit enter crew cabs from the protected side
  (shadow), away from traffic

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Emergency Crew Personnel Benchmarks

• Protective clothing and Helmet must be donned
  prior to exiting the emergency vehicle
• Class II Vest or bunker coat with a Helmet as a
  minimum. (Full PPE when performing FF work)

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Emergency Crew Personnel Benchmarks

• Always look before opening doors and stepping out
  of apparatus or emergency vehicles.
• Be alert when walking around apparatus.
• Stop at corner of the unit, check for traffic
• Stay on protected side when possible
• Maintain reduced profile when moving through any
  area where a minimum buffer zone exist.

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Interstate Highway Operations

• State Police and DOT have a desire to keep the
  traffic moving on these roadways.
• When in the judgment of the IC it becomes
  essential for the safety of operating personnel
  and patients, any or all lanes can be shut down
• This should rarely occur and should be for a
  short period of time as practical

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Interstate Highway Operations

• First arriving engine company shall establish an
  initial block of Lane 1 or Lane 2.
• Traffic cones shall be placed farther apart with
  the last cone approximately 150 feet upstream
• Personnel shall place and retrieve cones while
  facing traffic
• Emergency Scene Ahead signs shall also be
  deployed at all highway incidents, prior to the
  furthest traffic cone.

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Interstate Highway Operations

• Assign a flagger to monitor approaching traffic.
• Notify Command via radio of approaching traffic
  not responding to speed changes
• Police vehicles also used for advanced warning
  techniques
• Staging of additional companies off the highway
  may be required

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Interstate Highway Operations

• Establish liaison with State Police as soon as
  possible to jointly coordinate a safe work zone
• Termination of the incident, removal of crews,
  apparatus and equipment must be done promptly to
  reduce exposure to moving traffic and minimize
  traffic congestion.

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Officers Safe Parking Cue Card

• Block
• Block at least One Lane
• Block so pump panel is Down Stream
• Block most critical or highest traffic volume
  direction first
• Consider requesting addition PD units or
  Fire/Police

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Officers Safe Parking Cue Card

• Crews wear proper PPE w/Helmet
• Bunker Coat or Class II vests at all times
• Helmet or hard hat at all times

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Officers Safe Parking Cue Card

• Establish more than adequate advance warning.
• Traffic cones at 15 intervals
• Deploy minimum 5 cones upstream
• Deploy Emergency Scene Ahead sign prior to last
  cone upstream
• Cones only Suggest, they dont block
• Expand initial safe work zone

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Officers Safe Parking Cue Card

• Direct placement of ambulances
• Assure ambulances park within shadow of larger
  apparatus as directed
• Lane 1 is furthest right lane, next is Lane 2
  from approaching motorists point of view
• Direct ambulance to block to the right or left
  to protect loading doors
• All patient loading is done from within a
  protected work zone

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Officers Safe Parking Cue Card

• You are the Scene Safety Officer
• Consider assigning a FF as upstream flagger or
  spotter as necessary for approaching traffic

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Officers Safe Parking Cue Card

• Night or Reduced Light Conditions
• Turn off Headlights
• Turn off Traffic emitter
• Provide overall scene lighting
• All personnel in PPE w/helmets or vest
• Consider additional company for additional
  upstream block if necessary

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Officers Safe Parking Cue Card

• Highway Operations
• Establish initial block of one lane
• Place cones and signs upstream of apparatus
• Last Cone 150 upstream
• Deploy Emergency Scene Ahead sign prior to
  furthest cone
• Monitor approaching traffic
• Terminate incident aggressively

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Traffic Control devices

• Signs
• Channelization Devices
• Lighting Devices
• Pavement Markers

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Traffic Control Devices

• Should meet 5 basic requirements
• Fulfill the need
• Command Attention
• Convey a clear and simple meaning
• Command respect from road users, and
• Give appropriate time for response (reaction time)

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Protective Clothing

• The outer garment shall have retro-reflective
  material which meets NFPA or ANSI standards.
• Firefighter helmet or hard hat with
  retro-reflective tape on front, sides and rear of
  helmet or hard hat.

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Channelizing Devices(cones, barricades, etc.)

• Warn and alert road users of work conditions in
  or near the roadway
• Guide drivers and pedestrians safely
• Should provide a smooth, gradual, and obvious
  transition
• 28 plus 2 retroreflectorized white bands--one 6
  band about 2 above one 4 band

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Traffic Signs

• Typically diamond shaped with black lettering on
  orange or fluorescent pink retroreflective
  sheeting
• Should be placed in advance of hazard
• May be rigid or flexible material
• Size generally 36 by 36

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Stop and Slow Signs
18 inches
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General Safety for Flaggers

• Stand on side of Road facing traffic
• Always have an escape route
• Dont stand in shadows
• Beware of where the sun is, it may blind drivers
• Beware of the contrasting colors behind you.
• Stand alone

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Hand Signals
Stop on-coming traffic
Beckoning on-coming traffic
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Flashlights
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Safety Benchmarks

• Never trust approaching traffic
• NEVER turn your back to approaching traffic
• Establish an initial Block with first arriving
  fire apparatus
• Always wear firefighting helmet or hard hat with
  retro reflective tape.
• Wear Proper PPE

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Safety Benchmarks

• Turn off sources of vision impairment to
  approaching motorist at nighttime incidents.
• Use apparatus or police vehicles to redirect the
  flow of moving traffic
• Establish advance warning upstream
• Use traffic cones and incident signs to control
  traffic direction
• Establish Flagger to monitor approaching traffic

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• Junior emergency personnel shall not be allowed
  to direct traffic.
• Under 18 years of age

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NOT TOO SMART!!!
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Summary

• Protect Yourself
• Protect your Scene
• Dont Assume that all drivers will follow your
  directions.

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Dont Get Bit
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Dont Become A
Maine Speed Bumps