Lesson 6 Traffic Safety Protecting People While Stabilizing The Incident

Lesson 6Lesson 6

Traffic SafetyTraffic Safety

Protecting People WhileProtecting People While

Stabilizing The IncidentStabilizing The Incident

Identifying, Assessing & Identifying, Assessing & Managing RiskManaging Risk

Upon approaching the scene:Upon approaching the scene:

IdentifyIdentify hazards and hazards and developdevelop a plan to protect the scene a plan to protect the scene


Expect other drivers to make mistakesExpect other drivers to make mistakes

Consider the type of roadway you will be working on Consider the type of roadway you will be working on

(i.e. freeway vs. city street)(i.e. freeway vs. city street)

Weather conditionsWeather conditions

(dry vs. wet road or good vs. poor visibility)(dry vs. wet road or good vs. poor visibility)

Time of day (or night)Time of day (or night)

(scene and personal visibility and proper use of lighting)(scene and personal visibility and proper use of lighting)


What is What is Risk AssessmentRisk Assessment??

““Assessing or determining the possibility of suffering Assessing or determining the possibility of suffering harm or loss, and to what extent”harm or loss, and to what extent”

This is the first step in determining your plan of This is the first step in determining your plan of actionaction


What is What is Risk ManagementRisk Management??

““The development of strategy and tactical plans The development of strategy and tactical plans based on an accurate risk assessment taking into based on an accurate risk assessment taking into

consideration current and potentially changing scene consideration current and potentially changing scene conditions”conditions”

Driver Reaction TimeDriver Reaction Time

Components of reaction timeComponents of reaction time

Mental Processing Time:Mental Processing Time:

•SensationSensation

•Perception / RecognitionPerception / Recognition

•Situational AwarenessSituational Awareness

•Response SelectionResponse Selection



Movement Time:Movement Time:

The time required to perform the The time required to perform the selected actionselected action



Device Response Time:Device Response Time:

The functional time of a mechanical The functional time of a mechanical device to activatedevice to activate

Temporary Traffic Control ZoneTemporary Traffic Control Zone

Provides reasonably safe and efficient Provides reasonably safe and efficient movement of traffic.movement of traffic.

Reasonably protects workers, responders to Reasonably protects workers, responders to traffic incidents, and their equipment.traffic incidents, and their equipment.

Temporary Traffic Control Temporary Traffic Control ZoneZone

Components of a TTC ZoneComponents of a TTC Zone

1.1. Advance Warning AreaAdvance Warning Area2.2. Transition AreaTransition Area3.3. Activity AreaActivity Area4.4. Buffer SpaceBuffer Space5.5. Termination AreaTermination Area


Advance Warning AreaAdvance Warning Area

• Tells drivers what to expect ahead.Tells drivers what to expect ahead.

• Typical distances for placement of advance Typical distances for placement of advance warning signs on high speed roadways warning signs on high speed roadways should be longer because drivers are should be longer because drivers are conditioned to uninterrupted flow.conditioned to uninterrupted flow.


Transition AreaTransition Area

• Moves traffic out of its normal path and Moves traffic out of its normal path and away from the activity area.away from the activity area.


Activity AreaActivity Area

• This is where the work takes place.This is where the work takes place.

• This also includes your Buffer SpaceThis also includes your Buffer Space


Buffer SpaceBuffer Space

• Separates traffic from your work area.Separates traffic from your work area.

• Also provides some recovery area for an errant Also provides some recovery area for an errant vehicle.vehicle.

• Neither work nor equipment storage should occur in Neither work nor equipment storage should occur in the Buffer Space.the Buffer Space.


Termination AreaTermination Area

• Returns traffic back to their normal path Returns traffic back to their normal path beyond the incident scene.beyond the incident scene.

• Should include its own Buffer Space.Should include its own Buffer Space.

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A ID

Advance Warning Area

Activity Area

Termination Area

Buffer Space

Transition Area

Component Partsof a

Temporary TrafficControl Zone

A IDFlagger

Flagger

Vehicle near theshoulder

- - -Block as much ofthe traffic lane as

necessary foremergency w orker

safety

SHOULDER AREA

Vehicle near theshoulder

- - -Consider movingthe vehicle off theroadw ay if it canbe done safely

A ID

Vehicles on bothshoulders

- - -Use all available

resources tocontrol traffic

A ID

Move vehicles offthe roadw ay if it

can be safelydone.

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D iagram #6

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AID

Vehicles on acurve- - -

Allow for plenty ofAdvance W arning

IntersectionIncident

- - -Use all available

resources for TTCZone for personnel

safety

Protect the scenew ith your vehicles

- - -Use trained

personell to directtraffic as

necessary

AID

Police

Police

Police

D iagram #4

A ID

Freew ay Incident- - -

Consider use ofDOT to assist in

traffic control

A ID

AID

Freew ay Incident- - -

Consider use ofDOT to assist in

traffic control

AID

Vehicles blockingall lanes

- - -For emergency

personnel safety,block the roadw ay.

Traffic may be re-routed along theshoulder if it is

safe to do so andthere are enough

resources onscene to facilitate

this TTC Zone.

A ID

Flagger

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D iagram #1

Traffic Control DevicesTraffic Control Devices

• Used to warn or guide road usersUsed to warn or guide road users

• Provides for the orderly movement of Provides for the orderly movement of traffictraffic

Traffic Control DevicesTraffic Control Devices

Should meet 5 basic requirements:Should meet 5 basic requirements:

• Fulfill a needFulfill a need• Command attentionCommand attention• Convey a clear, simple meaningConvey a clear, simple meaning• Command respect from road usersCommand respect from road users• Give adequate time for proper responseGive adequate time for proper response

Channelizing DevicesChannelizing Devices

Traffic ConesTraffic Cones


Minimize the possibility of the cones being blown Minimize the possibility of the cones being blown overover

Double up on the cones to increase their Double up on the cones to increase their weight if neededweight if needed


Traffic cones should have a retro reflective band Traffic cones should have a retro reflective band that is no less than 4 inches in heightthat is no less than 4 inches in height


Minimum traffic cone height of 28 inchesMinimum traffic cone height of 28 inches


Placing a flare in front of the cone at night Placing a flare in front of the cone at night increases the visibility of the coneincreases the visibility of the cone

Placement of Traffic Control Placement of Traffic Control DevicesDevices

The road user should have adequate time The road user should have adequate time to make a proper response in both day to make a proper response in both day

and night conditionsand night conditions


Should be in a Should be in a uniformuniform and and consistentconsistent manner manner



Your apparatus is also a traffic control deviceYour apparatus is also a traffic control device

Placement of ApparatusPlacement of Apparatus

• Place within the Activity AreaPlace within the Activity Area

• Uniform and consistent with other traffic Uniform and consistent with other traffic control devicescontrol devices


• Physical protection Physical protection barrier to secondary barrier to secondary collisionscollisions

• Protection of the Protection of the pump operatorpump operator

• Protection of the Protection of the crewscrews

• Protection of the Protection of the citizenscitizens


Fire engines and other large apparatusFire engines and other large apparatus

• Park at a 45 degree anglePark at a 45 degree angle

• Exposes more surface area to absorb an Exposes more surface area to absorb an impact from an errant vehicleimpact from an errant vehicle

• Provides a “wall” of protectionProvides a “wall” of protection


• Park within the Activity AreaPark within the Activity Area

• Downstream or in the shadow of the fire Downstream or in the shadow of the fire engineengine

Transport vehiclesTransport vehicles


• DownstreamDownstream::

• Parallel with trafficParallel with traffic

• Ease of loading Ease of loading gurney into vehiclegurney into vehicle

• Clear access to Clear access to roadway when roadway when leaving for leaving for transporttransport

Transport vehiclesTransport vehicles


Park at a 45 Park at a 45 degree angle degree angle

with the with the pump panel pump panel

(drivers side) (drivers side) facing the facing the

Activity AreaActivity Area

When the fire engine is to be staffed with a When the fire engine is to be staffed with a pump operator/engineerpump operator/engineer

Night Time VisibilityNight Time Visibility

Common misconception:Common misconception:

The more warning lights that are flashing, the The more warning lights that are flashing, the better we can be seenbetter we can be seen

At the incident scene


The reality is:

The The warning lightswarning lights can be seen very well can be seen very well

Drivers get “drawn in” to the lightsDrivers get “drawn in” to the lights

Personnel visibility is reduced when they are Personnel visibility is reduced when they are overcome by overcome by excessiveexcessive emergency lights emergency lights



Turn off all unnecessary warning lightsTurn off all unnecessary warning lightsExcessive warning lights may:Excessive warning lights may:

Cause a distraction to driversCause a distraction to drivers~ ~ ~~ ~ ~

Act as a deadly attraction to drivers who are Act as a deadly attraction to drivers who are under the influence of drugs or alcoholunder the influence of drugs or alcohol



Turn off all unnecessary Turn off all unnecessary headlightsheadlightsWhen parked at the sceneWhen parked at the scene

Excessive headlights may:Be blinding to oncoming traffic and

Cause personnel to be nearly invisible to oncomingdrivers when they stand or walk in-between the

headlights and the oncoming traffic



Turn off all Turn off all unnecessary unnecessary

headlightsheadlights when when parked at the sceneparked at the scene



Use vehicle mounted floodlights to light the sceneUse vehicle mounted floodlights to light the scene

• Provides a safer working environmentProvides a safer working environment• Reduces distraction to traffic drivers caused by Reduces distraction to traffic drivers caused by

warning lightswarning lights• Do not aim the floodlights into the path of traffic Do not aim the floodlights into the path of traffic

driversdrivers• Ensure the floodlighting does not produce a Ensure the floodlighting does not produce a

disabling glare to trafficdisabling glare to traffic



Use vehicle mounted floodlights to light the sceneUse vehicle mounted floodlights to light the scene


Key ElementsKey Elementsofof

Personnel SafetyPersonnel Safety

TrainingTraining

• Practice traffic safety risk assessmentsPractice traffic safety risk assessments

• Establish safe working environmentsEstablish safe working environments


Personnel SafetyPersonnel SafetyEmergency Responder Safety ApparelEmergency Responder Safety Apparel

All personnel exposed to the risks of moving All personnel exposed to the risks of moving traffic traffic shallshall wear a high visibility vest day wear a high visibility vest day

or nightor night


Personnel SafetyPersonnel SafetyEmergency Responder Safety ApparelEmergency Responder Safety Apparel

• Provides more retro-reflective area for Provides more retro-reflective area for better visibility than firefighting turnout better visibility than firefighting turnout geargear

• Visibility of personnel is increased during Visibility of personnel is increased during daylight hours with the use of a high daylight hours with the use of a high visibility vestvisibility vest

• It’s the law!It’s the law!


Personnel SafetyPersonnel SafetyIncident Scene Traffic BarriersIncident 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



Speed ReductionSpeed ReductionMinimizes 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



The The responsibilityresponsibility of of safetysafety is shared among is shared among all personnelall personnel from the moment the from the moment the

emergency brake is set until it is released emergency brake is set until it is released to clear the scene after the incidentto clear the scene after the incident

Expect drivers to make Expect drivers to make mistakesmistakes

and prepare for themand prepare for them

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Lesson 6 Traffic Safety Protecting People While Stabilizing The Incident