Traffic Emergency responders guidline: updated from American standards (USA)

Introduction

Working in or near a moving traffic environment is extremely dangerous.

Emergency responders within diffirent countries have dealt with numerous emergency situations where vehicles have driven through incident scenes, compromising responder safety.

Risks related to emergency reponders

The organized placement of emergency vehicles and traffic control devices on a roadway can create safer working conditions for emergency responders.

Many reports in recent years indicate increasing injuries, “near misses”, and motorist speeding through emergency scenes.

The greatest risk to emergency responders occurs during two phases of Traffic Management; set-up and takedown.

During the set-up phase, emergency vehicle staging and the placement
of equipment establishes an emergency traffic control zone.

Until warning devices are in position, approaching motorists may not be expecting to find emergency responders and their equipment on the highway.

The risks associated with working in moving traffic and the constantly changing emergency scene environment can be reduced through awareness, training, teamwork and communication.

Each situation must be evaluated individually and an Incident Action Plan
made in order to perform each task as safely as possible.

First emergency response steps

Driving to the scene

The first priority of any response is the safe arrival of emergency vehicles and personnel at the emergency scene.

Follow the requirements of the Motor Vehicle standards with due regard to safety and take extra care.

Always endeavour to take the most efficient route that will effectively position the response vehicles to provide the best protection for the incident, while giving consideration to its operational function.

Arrival at the scene

Whether responding to an incident, approaching the scene, securing the scene or assisting the casualties, safety must always be a major consideration of the responders. Safety and Rescue priorities come before any other response function.

In addition to responding to motor vehicle collisions, performing rescue, fire suppression, hazardous materials containment or providing medical assistance to the casualties, the responders are also responsible for providing emergency traffic management.

Securing the scene

In order to provide safety at the scene, the following is required:

• Secure the incident site to protect emergency personnel, their equipment and the public, from hazardous conditions at the scene and throughout the traffic control zone.

NB: The point from where normal traffic flow is diverted to the point where traffic returns to normal.

• Establish a traffic control set-up that gives motorists adequate warning and reaction time.

• Separate pedestrians from vehicular traffic.

• Limit access to the site to authorized persons only.

A secure or well defined incident scene (traffic control zone) will command the attention of motorists and pedestrians, and clearly guide them around the incident scene without confusion.

It is extremely difficult to establish a clearly defined traffic control zone under emergency conditions, especially upon arrival.

Securing the scene takes time, and setup should be a progressive activity defined by the Incident Command (Officer-in- Charge), and is based on personnel, equipment and the critical needs of the incident.

Incident takedown

The Incident Commander should develop an Action Plan for the systematic takedown of the emergency traffic control zone.

All agencies involved in the incident must be included in the Plan and it’s priority based on the safe removal of personnel and equipment.