Emergency Responders Responsibilities: Updated from Emergency Health Services Nova Scotia

Emergency Responders Responsibilities – En Route

Incident Commander’s Responsibility

The Incident Commander has the responsibility to direct the resources, where in his/her opinion, they will be most effective.

The operation of the emergency vehicles must be in accordance with the Nova Scotia Motor Vehicle Act, and the Standard Operational Guidelines of the responding agency.

The Incident Commander is responsible to correct the unsafe behaviour of any personnel but conversely he/she may not direct those personnel to do anything that would create an undue hazard to the health and safety of any person.

Driver’s Responsibility

Drivers are responsible for the condition, contents, and safe handling of their vehicles.

The driver’s duty is to combine safe driving practices with the responsibility of a timely response.

Safe driving practices must be in accordance with the Province of Nova Scotia Motor Vehicle Act, and the Standard Operating Guidelines of the responding agency.

Again, safety takes precedence over other considerations, therefore regardless of contrary orders, a driver must not do anything that he/she has reasonable cause to believe, would create an undue hazard to the health and/or safety of any person.

Note: Emergency Responders that have been down – graded while responding to an emergency incident must discontinue the use of the warning devices when safe to do so.

Emergency Responders Responsibilities – On Scene

Incident Commander’s Responsibility

The Incident Commander has the responsibility to direct the emergency vehicles and resources where, in his/her opinion, they will be most effective.

The on-scene operations must be in accordance with the Nova Scotia Motor Vehicle Act and the Nova Scotia Emergency Responders “ Traffic Management Guidelines for Emergency Scenes”.

The Incident Commander is responsible to correct the unsafe behaviour of any of his/her personnel but, conversely he/she must not direct those personnel to do anything that would create an undue hazard to the health and/or safety of any person.

Driver’s Responsibility

Drivers are responsible for the condition, contents, and safe positioning of their emergency vehicle on scene.

The driver’s duty is to be familiar with the Nova Scotia Emergency Responders “Traffic Management Guidelines for Emergency Scenes” and park/position the vehicle in accordance with these Guidelines according to its planned function.

Again, safety takes precedence over other considerations.

Therefore, regardless of contrary orders, the driver must not do anything that he/she has reasonable cause to believe would create an undue hazard to the health and safety of any person.

Traffic Management Guidelines

Traffic guideline is a very important point to explain the emergency responders responsibilities.

The purpose of traffic management guidelines is to provide direction with respect to securing the scene and establishing an effective traffic control zone.

This set-up takes time and should be a progressive activity defined by the Incident Commander, and is based on the resources, and equipment available and the critical needs of the incident.

• Ensure all emergency lights are operating as you approach the scene.

• Conduct an initial scene survey to identify hazards and evaluate the situation.

• Communicate a brief radio report as per Incident Command procedures.

• Begin the establishment of an emergency traffic control zone by slowly coming to a stop, ensuring that the emergency vehicle is parked to provide initial safety to the scene.

• If applicable, report to the agency in COMMAND at the time of arrival.

• If first on scene, perform a size-up and Initial Action Plan.

• Give directions to the responders. All personnel leaving the emergency vehicles must wear appropriate safety equipment.

• Consider implementing traffic management procedures to enhance initial set-up.

• If required, call for additional resources to secure the scene (i.e. “Safety Support Vehicle”, traffic cones, etc.).

• The INCIDENT COMMANDER must evaluate the priorities of the situation based on his/her size-up and make an effort to place appropriate warning devices on the approach to the emergency vehicle as soon as possible. Roadway speed and surface condition, view obstructions, reduced visibility and glare are some of the factors that must be considered when determining cone placement.

• At any incident, the appropriate Police agency shall be notified that traffic control is required.

• When the estimated on-scene time is anticipated to exceed 1 hour, the incident is considered to be a “long duration incident”. When a long duration incident is anticipated, traffic control shall be provided under the authority of the Police Agency.

• All safety procedures must remain in place until the incident is terminated (all personnel, hazards, emergency and related vehicles and equipment are removed from the roadway) or until a designated agency arrives on scene, provides a complete traffic control set-up and/or assumes responsibility for the incident.

Component Areas Of An Emergency Traffic Control Zone

A well designed emergency traffic control zone should reflect five distinct component areas.

These areas are described below in the order in which drivers will encounter them.

Advance Warning Area

The Advance Warning Area should alert motorists that there is a traffic situation or difficulty ahead which will require some action on his/her part.

Approach Area

The Approach area should identify the nature of the equipment or vehicle that he/she is about to encounter and allow them to analyse the situation.

Transition Area

The Transition Area should provide an indication as to the expected action to be taken by the motorist.

This will help them decide on a course of action and execute safe driving techniques prior to entering the Activity Area.

Activity Area

Components of the Activity Area include:

• Fend Off Position (refers to the position of the emergency vehicle)

• Buffer Zone (refers to scene protection area between the first emergency vehicle and the incident site)

• Incident Site (Restricted to authorized personnel only)

• Traffic Space (Area where traffic is allowed to pass by the Activity Area)

• Staging Area (Emergency Vehicles not immediately required to perform a function or shielding at the incident scene should be directed to stage in this area.

The area should be downstream/upstream of the incident site and the location should not create a traffic hazard or obstruction).

Termination Area

This is the area where traffic returns to it’s normal path.

The Termination Area extends from the downstream side of the Staging Area to the point where normal traffic is able to resume.

Where motorist safety is compromised such as access to off/on ramps in this area, traffic control may be required.