Traffic Control for Emergency Responders

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Traffic Control for Emergency Responders

• Connecticut Fire Academy
• www.ct.gov/cfpc
• October 2005

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Traffic Control for Emergency Responders

• Unit 1 Selection process to becoming a Fire
  Police Officer and required training.
• Unit 2 Procedures for Dealing with the Public
  and Press
• Unit 3 Radio/Communication Guidelines

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Traffic Control for Emergency Responders

• Unit 4 Traffic and Crowd Control Procedures
• Unit 5 Traffic Control Procedures (zones)
• Unit 6 Practical Skills Evolution

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Introduction

• Fire Police Officers (FPO)
• You are charged with a vast responsibility when
  an emergency, disaster, or catastrophe strikes
  your community.

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Introduction

• It is most incumbent that you be prepared
  to cope with any emergency that arises by being
  well informed and knowledgeable of your job and
  responsibilities
• What you can do, what you can not do,
  what authority you do have, what happens if you
  exceed your authority, and the laws that apply to
  the fire service.

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NIOSH Describes Traffic Hazards to Fire Fighters
While Working Along Roadways

• The number of firefighters struck and killed
• by motor vehicles has dramatically increased
• within recent years.
• 5-year period between 1995 and 1999
• 17 firefighters were struck and killed
• 89 increase LODD deaths over the previous 5-year
  period
• (1990 and 1994)
• 9 firefighters were struck and killed by motor
  vehicles
• NFPA 2000. Cont.

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NIOSH Describes Traffic Hazards to Fire Fighters
While Working Along Roadways

• Firefighter Fatality Investigation and Prevention
  Program
• NIOSH investigated two separate incidents
• Firefighters who were struck and killed while
  providing emergency services along roadways
  during 1999 (NIOSH 1999, 2000).
• Data demonstrate that hazards to the fire service
  are not limited to structural or wildland fires.
• NFPA 2000. Cont.

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NIOSH Describes Traffic Hazards to Fire Fighters
While Working Along Roadways

• Motorists are accustomed to
• Clear, unobstructed roadway
• May not recognize and avoid closed lanes or
  emergency workers on or near the roadway.
• In some cases, conditions can reduce a
  motorist's ability to see and avoid firefighters
  and apparatus.
• NFPA 2000. Cont.

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NIOSH Describes Traffic Hazards to Fire Fighters
While Working Along Roadways

• Examples include
• Weather,
• Time of day,
• Scene lighting
• (i.e., area lighting and optical warning devices)
• Traffic Speed and Volume
• Road configuration
• (i.e., hills, curves, and other obstructions that
  limit visibility)

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NIOSH Describes Traffic Hazards to Fire Fighters
While Working Along Roadways

• Hazards Not Limited to the Fire Service
• Other emergency service providers
• Law Enforcement Officers
• Paramedics
• Vehicle Recovery Personnel
• Also exposed to these hazards.

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Unit 1

• The Selection Process
• and Required Training

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Selection Process

• No state limit on how many members
• Municipalities can limit membership
• Numbers can reflect
• a. Community size
• b. Number of full time law enforcement officers
• c. Fire Police Officers available for Emergency
  Duty

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Selection Process

• Applicants must meet departments requirements
• No applicant shall be appointed if under
  18-years of age
• Shall complete and pass departments annual
  physical health requirements to be covered by
  most workers compensation insurance policies
• Basic understanding of Motor Vehicle Statues

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Selection Process

• Free from any felony convictions.
• Must maintain a Valid Connecticut drivers
  license.
• Should be free from any disabilities that will
  restrict the free and unimpeded movement of the
  fire police officer while performing his or her
  duties.

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Selection Process

• Good conduct
• You are probably the first contact between the
  emergency scene and the general public.
• Good mental attitude.

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Selection Process

• Good physical condition.
• 1. Mobile
• 2. Good hearing
• 3. Good sight
• 4. Mentally alert
• 5. React in an emergency
• 6. Agile
• 7. Good Posture
• 8. Stamina (Long Duration)

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Required Training

• Shall receive training in the following areas
• 1. Connecticuts General Statutes
• (Fire Ground and the AHJ)
• 2. Use of warning devices.
• 3. Traffic control.
• 4. Personal protective equipment.
• 5. HazMat Awareness ( Pre-Req.)
• 6. Communications

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Required Training (Statutes)

• Your function in the community is so vital, the
  state of Connecticut has, by statute, established
  the requirements for fire police.
• The State of Connecticut has established laws
  that will assist you in your job duties.

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Required Training- Section 7-313aFire Police
Revised

• See Attachment
• State Statutes

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Required Training- Section 7-313a

• Such powers and duties shall include
• 1. Traffic control and regulation
• 2. Fire drills or fires while the fire
  department is on scene
• 3. Fire department functions
• 4. With any other adjoining fire
  department

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Required Training- Section 7-313a

• Each fire police officer shall while in the
  performance of duty wear the following
• 1. Wear a badge in plain view.
• 2. Wear a white helmet with the words
  Fire Police in red letters on the
  front.
• 3. Wear a traffic vest, orange or lime green
  reflective raincoat or outer clothing.
• 4. A flash light with red wand capable of
  projecting
• clear light for the purpose of illumination
  at night.
• 5. All equipment provided by the appointing
• municipality.

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Section 14-223a Striking anOfficer with a Motor
Vehicle

• See Attachment
• State Statutes

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Section 7-313b Authority of the Fire Officer and
the removal of persons

• Fire Officer in charge of directing fire ground
  operations shall have the authority to remove any
  person
• Any building or place in the vicinity of such
  fire or emergency for the purpose of protecting
  such person from injury.
• Fines for not leaving are not more than fifty
  dollars or imprisoned for seven days or both.

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Section 7-313e The Fire Officer during Emergency

• Not withstanding any provision in the general
  statutes or municipal ordinance to the contrary.
• The Fire Chief or the Fire Officer in charge.
• AHJ - Authority having jurisdiction.
• Responding to or operating at a fire , service
  call or other emergencies.

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Section 7-313e The Fire Officer during Emergency

• Have the authority to
• Control and direct emergency activities.
• Order any person to leave any building in the
  vicinity of such fire for the purpose of
  protecting such person from injury.
• Blockade any public highway, street, or private
  right of way temporarily while at such scene.

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Section 7-313e The Fire Officer during Emergency

• Have the authority to
• At any time of the day or night enter any
  building, including a private dwelling, or upon
  any premises where a fire is in progress or near
  the scene of any fire.

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Section 3-314a Benefits

• Death Benefit.
• Disability coverage.
• Workers compensation.
• Taxes relief, in some communities enabled by
  State Statute.

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Section 14-96qFlashing Lights

• See Attachment
• State Statutes

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Section 14-96q(b)Red Light

• See Attachment
• State Statutes

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Section 14-96q(c)Flashing Lights

• 14-96q(c) This subsection refers to use by
  members of the fire police on a stationary
  vehicle as a warning signal during traffic
  directing operations.
• 14-96q(d) Use of lamps and flashing lights
  except as authorized by this section shall be an
  infraction.

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Section 14-283e Approaching Emergency Vehicles

• See Attachment
• State Statutes

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Section 14-296b Followingor Parking Near Fire
Apparatus

• See Attachment
• State Statutes

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Fire Police Authority

• Your authority has limits,
• Dont Forget to stay within them!

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Unit 2

• Procedures for Dealing with the Public and the
  Press

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Procedures for the Public

• FPO organizations must preplan and adopt
• Standard Operating Procedures
• Standard Operating Guidelines
• These SOPs/SOGs should be
• In writing
• Reviewed and Updated as required (annually)
• Develop procedures on a regional basis
• See Appendix for sample SOPs

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General ProceduresSOPs / SOGs

• Procedures should address
• - Traffic Patterns - Electrical Hazards
• - Use of warning Devices - Motor Vehicle
  Accidents
• - Structure Fires - General Safety of the
  - Hydrated Areas Public
• - Non-Hydrated Areas
• - HazMat Incident

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Procedures for the Public

• You are the first Emergency Responder many
  people meet
• So the impression that you leave, will be a
  lasting one.

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Procedures for the Press

• Procedure can not supercede the Law
• Must address F.O.I.
• Should address identification of the press
• Free lancers are not granted access
• Must address the AHJs roll
• Must address the safety factor
• Is the area safe?

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Unit 3

• Radio Communication
• Guidelines

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RADIO/COMMUNICATIONS

• Fire Police Officers, Must Know
• Incident Command System
• How they Fit into the system.
• Required Training (NIMS)
• Contact your Department Training Officer

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RADIO/COMMUNICATIONS

• Fire Police Officers, Must
• Have the ability to Communicate orally
• Be able to interpret verbal
• Be able to interpret written instructions.

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RADIO/COMMUNICATIONS

• Radio
• Important means of communicating
• When directing traffic
• Coordinating efforts with the IC
• Members of your FPO organization
• Mutual aid

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RADIO/COMMUNICATIONS

• Currently the state is licensed for one low band
  frequency (33.42 limited to 5 watts)
• Low band radios are becoming obsolete
• Being replaced by higher frequency radios.

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RADIO/COMMUNICATIONS

• FPO Organizations should look into
• Multi-channel radios that have the
• Ability to operate on low power channels
• Talk to the IC without interfering with fire
  ground communications.
• FPO should
• Meet with their chiefs
• Mutual aid companies
• Develop an area wide system.

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RADIO/COMMUNICATIONS

• Proper Radio Operations
• Use only when necessary
  (not a CB or cell-phone)
• Assure you are on designated frequency
• 1st Identify the unit being called
• 2nd Identify the unit that is calling
• 3rd Keep messages brief and to the point

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RADIO/COMMUNICATIONS

• When using the radio talk calmly and clearly
• DO NOT YELL/SCREAM
• Prior to transmitting assure the air is clear
• If reporting vital information use the phonetic
  alphabet ie Avenue A A as in Alpha etc.
• If your department can afford it
  cell-phones could be an alternative
  to radios

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Unit 4Traffic Control
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Warning Devices

• Flares
• Cones
• Signs
• Flash lights/Traffic wands
• Flashing or revolving lights

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Warning Devices

• Road Flares
• Used for short periods of time
• Available in
• 15 minute sizes
• 30 minute sizes
• 30 minutes is preferable

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Warning Devices

• Road Flares Hazards.
• 1. Greatest danger is when lighting.
• 2. Flammable or Combustible liquids.
• 3. Flammable Gases.
• 4. Molten material can fly from flares.
• 5. Electronic Road Flares are an Alternative.

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Warning Devices

• Placement of Road Flares
• Positioning Dictated by the situation
• Highway Itself
• Weather
• Traffic Speed Limits
• Reaction time of the motor vehicle driver

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Warning Devices

• Cones Should Be
• Orange in color
• Reflexive stripe
• 28 in height
• Heavy enough not to blow over
• Placement Cones
• Same as road flares
• Cones / Any Warning Device
• Never Turn Your
• Back to Traffic.

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Warning Devices

• Signage
• not used to direct traffic, only for warning
  motorist of up coming problems.
• NFPA 1500
• DOT MUTCD
• (Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices)
• Accident Ahead Warning Signs
• Deployed prior to mitigating the incident,
• Part of risk management for responder safety

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Warning Devices

• Signage Hand-held
• Combination stop/slow
• Minimum 18 in diameter with 10 handle
• Road signage
• Used at long term incidents
• usually supplied by local highway or state DOT

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Warning Devices

• Flash lights/Traffic wands
• Flash Light w/Red Wand
• capable of projecting a clear light for the
  purpose of illumination at night.
• Traffic wand w/Red LED
• (light diodes)
• Gain attention of oncoming traffic.

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Warning Devices

• Rotating or flashing vehicle lights
• Blue lights Responding
• Red light as a Warning Signal during Emergency as
  long as vehicle is stationary
• Amber flashing lights must be permitted by CT DMV
• All lights must be permitted

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Traffic Control

• Directing Traffic Tell people
• How
• When
• Where they can move
• You Actually Tell Them
• How to Move
• Your most important Job
• Let drivers and pedestrians
• know what you want them to do

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Traffic Control

• Primary Function
• Move Traffic
• Move Pedestrians
• Safely through and Around Emergency Zones
• While Protecting
• Emergency Workers
• Equipment

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Traffic Control

• FPO Responsibility
• FPO Job is dangerous
• No control over drivers actions
• Take every precaution to make incident scene safe

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Traffic Control

• 2002 Statistics
• Nationwide 1,180 work zone deaths
• In 2003 6 FF/FPO were killed while directing
  traffic

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Traffic Control

• Scene Safety
• Secondary Incidents
• Yourself
• Emergency Workers
• Pedestrians
• Motoring Public
• Equipment

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Traffic Control

• Qualifications
• Ability to ID existing or potential problems
• Site Dangers
• React Quickly and Decisively
• Greatest number of contacts with the public

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Traffic Control

• Sense of Responsibility
• Properly Trained in Traffic Control
• Good Physical Condition
• Mobile
• Good Sight/Mentally Alert
• React In an Emergency
• Courteous but Firm
• Properly Dressed

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Traffic Control

• Dealing with the Public
• Act with Authority
• Authoritative Stature
• Courteous
• Do Not act uncertain,rude,or uncaring
• Answer all questions accurately
• but briefly
• If more detailed info is needed have motorist
  pull to safe area

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Traffic Control

• Road Rage a Growing Concern
• You are the First Contact
• They Will Vent, it is not Personal
• Remember your Responsibility
• Traffic Control
• Remain Firm but Courteous
• If situation Escalates
• Call Incident Commander or Police

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Traffic Control

• Code Of Conduct
• Your actions speak louder than words
• DO NOT Sit/Mingle with civilians
• DO NOT turn your back to traffic
• DO NOT leave your post without permission

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Traffic Control

• Paddle and Hand Signals
• Hand signaling devices
• STOP/SLOW paddles and lights,
• used to control traffic through emergency zones
• STOP/SLOW paddle
• Positive Guidance,
• Primary Signaling Device
• 18 across with handle.

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Traffic Control

• Hand Signal Procedures
• Be Consistent
• Accentuated
• To Stop Traffic Face Traffic
• Stop paddle
• stationary fully extended away from the body
• free hand raised to traffic with palm toward
  approaching traffic

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Traffic Control

• Direct traffic to proceed
• Face traffic
• Slow paddle stationary
• Fully extended away from body
• Motion with free hand for traffic to proceed.

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Traffic Control

• To Alert or Slow Traffic
• Face Traffic,
• Slow paddle stationary
• Fully extended away from body,
• Motion with free hand palm down
• Motion up and down repeatedly
• Indicating traffic to slow down

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Traffic Control

• One FPO operation
• 2-way low volume roads
• short lane closures
• adequate sight lines
• dead-end streets

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Traffic Control

• Two or more FPO operations.
• 1 FPO in closed lane
• 1 FPO in the open lane
• 1 FPO to be coordinator or lead FPO
• To initially STOP traffic.
• Stand on shoulder of road
• Facing traffic with the STOP side of the paddle
  facing traffic

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Traffic Control

• Arm fully extended
• Palm exposed to traffic,
• Once vehicles have fully stopped
• Move towards the centerline,
• STOP paddle still facing traffic
• always remember-check over your shoulder, dont
  turn your back on traffic
• Watch the open lane for traffic.

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Traffic Control

• Signal your partner that traffic is stopped
• Signals should not be mistaken
  (SOPs / SOGs would eliminate any
  confusion)
• Partner then move back to the shoulder of the
  road
• STOP side of paddle still exposed to traffic
• Once on the shoulder of the road check over your
  shoulder then release traffic,
• Display the SLOW side of the paddle,
• Swing free arm in a horizontal arc
• Maintain control of the traffic.

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Traffic Control

• If traffic is picking up speed
• Raise and lower your free hand palm
  down,
• Telling traffic to SLOW DOWN.
• If FPO are out of sight of each other
• an additional FPO may be required.
• Radios may negate this problem.

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Traffic Control

• Night Operations
• Most Important VISIBILITY
• Attempt to set up in well lit areas if possible
• PPE must be reflective
• PPE should be visible at a distance of 1000
• Lightwands/ Flares/ Cones/Warning Lights

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Personal Protective Equipment

• All PPE should meet or exceed
• ANSI / ISEA 107-1999
• standard for high-visibility safety apparel
• see student handout for details
• Per this Standard
• 3 classes of protective gear based on traffic
  speed

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Personal Protective Equipment

• Class 1
• Speeds not exceeding 25 mph

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Personal Protective Equipment

• Class 2
• Speeds above 25 mph
• not exceeding 50 mph

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Personal Protective Equipment

• Class 3
• Traffic Speeds above 50 mph

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PPE Continued

• This new standard is being adopted by
  construction workers, and all emergency crews.
• This standard will allow you to be seen at
  distances of over 1000.

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PPE Continued

• Helmet/Reflective cap
• Flashlight/Light wand
• Reflective gloves
• Cold weather gear
• Footwear
• Foul weather reflective gear

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Crowd Control

• Barrier tape
• Signs
• Bullhorn

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Unit 5

• Traffic Control
• Zones

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TRAFFIC CONTROL ZONES

• WARNING!! No FPO should step onto the surface of
  a Limited Access Highway or Divided Highway prior
  to the Fire Dept Initiating proper traffic
  CONTROL ZONES for the protection of all emergency
  workers from a secondary accident.

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TRAFFIC CONTROL ZONES
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Four Parts of a Traffic Control Zone

• A Temporary Traffic Control Zone is an area of a
  highway where temporary traffic controls are
  imposed by authorized officials in response to a
  road user incident, natural disaster, or special
  event.
• A Temporary Traffic Control Zone is typically
  marked by signs, cones, flares, and/or emergency
  response vehicles. It extends from the first
  warning sign or rotating/strobe light on a
  vehicle to the last temporary traffic control
  device. The four parts of a Traffic Control
  Zone, as shown in Figure 1, are
• Advance Warning Area The first area a driver
  encounters when approaching the incident. This
  is the area in which drivers are told what to
  expect. The advance warning may consist of
  signs, flashing lights, or combination of all
  three.
• Transition Area Whenever a lane or portion of
  the highway is closed, travel path shifted, or
  both, traffic must be channel from its normal
  path to a new path. Tapers are used to
  accomplished this in the transition area.
• Activity Area
• Incident Space- The area of the highway that is
  closed to traffic.
• Buffer Space- The area that provides recovery
  space for errant vehicles approaching the
  incident area.
• Termination Area The area used to return
  traffic to its normal traffic path.

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DIAGRAM OF A TRAFFIC CONTROL ZONE
Figure 1
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ADVANCE WARNING AREA
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Table 3- Establishing Flagger Station and Sign
Location Using Your Pace
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Two Lane Roadway Off Road Incident
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MULTI LANE ROADWAY- SINGLE LANE CLOSURE
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INTERSECTION INCIDENT IN CENTER OF INTERSECTION
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INTERSECTION INCIDENT ON AN APPROACH
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TRAFFIC CONTROL - REMOVAL
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CHECKLIST
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RECOMMENDED EQUIPMENT FOR FIRST RESPONDERS
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PRACTICAL EVOLUTIONS

• All Students Will Dress in Their PPE and Bring
  Associated Equipment Into Classroom for
  Inspection
• Refer to Figure 1
• Traffic Control Zone

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Connecticut Fire AcademyWindsor Locks, CT

• www.ct.gov/cfpc