Emergency Vehicle Operations Unit IX Roadway/Highway Safety 1

Unit IX Objectives  The EVO will be able to list and describe typical problems encountered during travel and emergency response.  The EVO will be able to list and describe the measures to be taken to drive defensively and arrive alive. 2

Roadway/Highway Safety If you frequently work on highways/freeways contact your local DOT 3

Manage to Survive: Traffic Incident Management for First Responders 0LYs&list=UUQ9UHQ1sRz3ee1pMsEpQ_JQ&fe ature=player_embedded 0LYs&list=UUQ9UHQ1sRz3ee1pMsEpQ_JQ&fe ature=player_embedded 4

NTIMC Strongly Recommended National Traffic Incident Management Course (TIMS) 8 Hour Course – TIM consists of a planned and coordinated multi- disciplinary process to detect, respond to, and clear traffic incidents so that traffic flow may be restored as safely and quickly as possible. Effective TIM reduces the duration and impacts of traffic incidents and improves the safety of motorists, crash victims and emergency responders. 5

TIMS Traffic incidents cause traffic delays Highway congestion is caused when traffic demand approaches or exceeds the available physical capacity of road Rapid detection and clearance of minor incidents Major Incidents, protect responders and crash victims 6

TIMS Major criminal incidents require complex investigations National Incident Management Coalition Washington Traffic Incident Management Responder safety Everyone goes home safely 7

TIMS Roles & responsibilities during incidents Safe, quick clearance The benefits of safe, quick clearance Goal: Clear all traffic incidents from roads within goal of 90 minutes Summary 8

Poor Scene Management 9

Apparatus Placement Park the apparatus in a manner that reduces the chance of the vehicle being struck by traffic. Angle apparatus to shielding the scene from traffic; protecting operational areas. Place apparatus where traffic will be able to see your apparatus and have time to react and slow or stop. Shield patient loading area behind ambulances with your apparatus. Additional apparatus maybe needed to protect the scene and emergency personnel.

Establish a Work Zone DOT and highway workers have used and modified work zones for years Motorists must be given ample warning that a work zone exists Extra people should be removed from a highway scene Apparatus should be parked and used as blockers

Vest Use 12

STATE LAW NOW MANDATES EMERGENCY RESPONDERS TO WEAR A TRAFFIC VEST WHEN OPERATING ON OR NEAR A ROADWAY; EXCEPT WHEN ENGAGED IN FIRE SUPPRESSION ACTIVITIES… (5) High visibility garments. (a) During daylight hours, when employees' duties are performed in close proximity to moving vehicles, employers must make sure that employees wear a high- visibility safety vest, shirt, or jacket that is fluorescent yellow-green, fluorescent orange-red, or fluorescent red in color. This garment must always be worn as an outer garment. WAC General requirements for personal protective equipment (PPE).

Definition: For the purpose of this rule, hours of darkness means from one- half hour before sunset to one-half hour after sunrise. (b) During hours of darkness, when employees' duties are performed in close proximity to moving vehicles, the employer must make sure that employees wear, at a minimum, a high-visibility safety vest, shirt, or jacket: Designed according to ANSI/ISEA Class 2 specifications; Worn as an outer garment; AND Worn to provide three hundred sixty degrees of visibility around the employee. 14

Highway Parking 15

Vehicle Positions 16

Roadway/Highway Safety Unit IX Objectives  The EVO will be able to list and describe typical problems encountered during travel and emergency response.  The EVO will be able to list and describe the measures to be taken to drive defensively and arrive alive. 17