5006 - Vehicle, Apparatus, And Specialty Trailer Safety

Question 1

Who shall be responsible for ensuring that TFD has a program to properly train TFD personnel in vehicle, apparatus and specialty trailer operation before they are assigned as vehicle and/or apparatus drivers.

Answer 1

The Deputy Chief of Support Services.

Question 2

Who shall be responsible for:

1. Ensuring TFD personnel maintain EVIP certification
2. Maintaining this document

Answer 2

The Administrative Battalion Chief for Safety.

Question 3

Who shall be responsible for scheduling and documenting pump testing on all TFD apparatus, excluding the fireboats.

Answer 3

The Station 15 Captain.

Question 4

What are all TFD personnel who function as safety spotters responsible for?

Answer 4

1. Indicating to the operator/driver the presence of people, objects, structures and/other traffic
2. Using hand signals and communications as outlined in this policy to assist the operator/driver to negotiate around people, objects, structures and/or other traffic to prevent accidents and/or damage

Question 5

Who shall be responsible for:

1. Ensuring routine maintenance and emergency repairs are performed on all vehicles, apparatus and specialty trailers in the TFD fleet
2. Implementing a preventive maintenance program for TFD vehicles, apparatus and specialty trailers
3. Maintaining maintenance and repair records in accordance with the guidelines set forth in this document
4. Making the final determination regarding repairs and/or operability issues as identified by an officer, in-charge firefighter/paramedic and/or relevant supervisor as outlined in this document.

Answer 5

The Fire Garage Supervisor.

Question 6

Who shall be responsible for repairing and/or replacing remote opener equipment for station and facility bay doors in accordance with the guidelines set forth in this document?

Answer 6

TFD Electrical Division personnel.

Question 7

Who shall be responsible for:

1. Handling requests for remote opener equipment for station and facility bay door problems in accordance with the guidelines set forth in this document
2. Contacting Fire Garage personnel to assist with vehicles, apparatus and specialty trailer that are stuck in snow, mud or uneven terrain?

Answer 7

TFD Fire Communications Center personnel.

Question 8

What four things should every TFD employee who drives, operates and/or tows a TFD vehicle, apparatus or specialty trailer do?

Answer 8

a. Carry his/her driver’s license while on duty
b. Obey all traffic laws
c. Drive defensively
d. Use his/her best judgment and operating abilities to avoid any type of motor vehicle accident or damage

Question 9

What shall TFD employees do in regards to apparatus?

Answer 9

a. Properly use and wear seat belts at all times when operating TFD vehicles or apparatus
b. Be seated while the vehicle or apparatus is in motion
c. Use wheel blocks when parking a vehicle, apparatus or specialty trailer at any location outside of the station, including emergency scenes

Question 10

What are the only exceptions to the safety rules whole operating in apparatus?

Answer 10

a. Personnel who are actively performing necessary emergency medical care to a patient in the patient compartment of a transport unit
1. Those personnel and patients shall be restrained to the extent consistent with the effective provision of such emergency medical care
2. Personnel who are seated or kneeling in a hose bed during hose loading operations as specified in this document

Question 11

How shall wheel blocks be rated and what is their exception to use?

Answer 11

Wheel blocks shall be rated by the manufacturer for use on the apparatus for which they are being deployed

a. The exception to this is TFD apparatus under 20,000 pounds gross vehicle weight

Question 12

Whaen shall YFD apparatus use headlights?

Answer 12

All TFD vehicles and apparatus shall have headlights on while in motion.

Question 13

What can be said about turning off an apparatus?

Answer 13

When safety is not compromised and if it is possible, a driver shall:

a. Turn off the vehicle or apparatus engine to limit TFD personnel exposure to exhaust emissions, conserve fuel and protect the environment
b. Use emergency flashers when necessary, keeping in mind the battery charge and storage capacity

Question 14

What shall be done if an apparatus becomes stuck?

Answer 14

Contact FCC and place the unit out of service
b. Refrain from spinning tires or “rocking” the vehicle, apparatus and/or specialty trailer

Upon notification from the Officer of a stuck vehicle, apparatus and/or specialty trailer, FCC personnel shall:

a. Contact Fire Garage personnel for assistance
b. Notify the appropriate Battalion Chief

Question 15

TFD employees shall not do what while in an apparatus?

Answer 15

a. Don or doff turnout coats, pants or boots while the vehicle or apparatus is in motion
b. Be in an engine’s hose bed while the apparatus is in forward motion and the hose is being deployed from the hose bed
c. Ride on tailboards, sidesteps or running boards

Question 16

TFD personnel are prohibited from doing what in apparatus?

Answer 16

a. Using I-Pods, MP-3s, Blackberries and/or similar devices while driving TFD vehicles, apparatus and/or specialty trailers
b. Eating or drinking while driving TFD vehicles, apparatus and/orspecialty trailers
c. Sounding the air horn(s) and siren(s), except during priority response and other circumstances as necessary and appropriate d. Parking on sidewalks or private driveways

1. Medic units responding at emergency incidents are the exception to this

Question 17

What can be said about apparatus checks?

Answer 17

The drivers of all staffed TFD apparatus and Battalion Chief vehicles shall conduct a daily and weekly operational check of the apparatus or vehicle and document findings on the appropriate and current form for that apparatus or vehicle.

a. The weekly check shall include a brake inspection

Question 18

Who has the final authority to keep a vehicle or apparatus in service or take it out of service until it has been restored to a safe operating condition?

Answer 18

The Fire Garage Supervisor.

Question 19

TFD vehicles or apparatus shall not respond in priority response mode while towing a specialty trailer.
True or false?

Answer 19

True.

Question 20

When the first arriving TFD unit reports on the scene with “nothing showing” or an equivalent report, all additional responding units shall do what?

Answer 20

Continue responding priority in accordance with the guidelines set forth in this document, but shall not exceed the posted speed limit.

Question 21

When may the posted speed limit be exceeded?

Answer 21

only when all of the following conditions are present:

a. Light traffic
b. Roads are in good repair
c. Good visibility
d. Dry pavement

Question 22

TFD drivers may exceed the posted speed limit only under the following circumstances and only as long as the vehicle or apparatus does not endanger life or property:

Answer 22

a. When traffic conditions require TFD vehicles or apparatus to travel in the center or oncoming traffic lanes the maximum speed shall be 20 miles per hour
b. When traveling on arterials the maximum allowable speed shall be 10 miles per hour over the posted speed limit, if conditions allow
c. When traveling on freeways the maximum allowable speed limit shall be the posted speed limit, unless driving conditions warrant a reduction in speed
1. Warning devices shall be used at the discretion of the Officer or In-charge Firefighter/Paramedic

Question 23

When shall safety spotters be used while maneuvering vehicles, apparatus and/or specialty trailers:

Answer 23

a. When backing a vehicle, apparatus and/or specialty trailer
b. When making a forward turn with restrictive side clearances
c. In areas with diminishing clearances and/or where height clearance is uncertain
d. When the angle of arrival and departure is unclear

Question 24

When it is absolutely essential to back the vehicle, apparatus and/or specialty trailer and no personnel are available to act as spotters, what should be done?

Answer 24

The TFD driver shall get out of the vehicle or apparatus and make a complete top to bottom 360-degree survey of the surrounding area to determine whether there are any obstructions or hazards prior to backing.

Question 25

When is someone allowed to ride in the hosebed?

Answer 25

Crew members shall be allowed in the hose bed of a moving apparatus only when the apparatus is in forward motion traveling to the next roll of hose.

1. Crew members in the hose bed shall be sitting or kneeling
2. The maximum speed limit is 5 mph
3. No one may ride the tailboard

Question 26

What are the rules for lost garage door remotes?

Answer 26

Officers or In-charge Firefighter/Paramedics shall make replacement requests as follows:

a. Monday through Friday, 0800 to 1600 hours, contact the Fire Electrical Division to obtain a replacement remote
b. After hours, weekends or holidays, contact the Fire Communications Center (FCC) to obtain a replacement remote

Question 27

To whom is erratic door behavior reported to?

Answer 27

Officers or In-charge Firefighter/Paramedics shall notify the Fire Electrical Division during business hours to report any erratic door operation.

Question 28

Where shall the operator of the aerial be when the ladder is in use?

Answer 28

The operator of an aerial equipped apparatus shall remain on the turntable whenever firefighters are on the ladder. a. If the aerial ladder is being used only as a ground ladder an operator is not required to be on the turntable

Question 29

Explain testing of aerial ladders.

Answer 29

TFD aerial ladders shall be tested annually in accordance with WAC 296- 305-04509 and manufacturer recommendations.

5. The TFD Fire Garage Supervisor shall ensure that TFD aerial ladders, as well as the support section of the apparatus that supports the turntable, are nondestructively tested by a certified testing agency every five years.
6. Aerial ladders also shall be nondestructively tested after any accident that causes structural damage.
   a. All defects detected by a certified testing agency shall be corrected before the apparatus is returned to service
7. Aerial ladder rungs or rails that have been subjected to unusual impact shall be tested by a certified testing agency before further usage.
8. TFD Captains assigned to ladder companies shall ensure that 10 hour and quarterly aerial inspection, maintenance and cleaning is conducted in accordance with manufacturer’s guidelines and documented on the appropriate current form, with documentation stored in company files.
9. TFD personnel assigned to ladder companies shall inspect cables, pulleys, rails and rungs of aerial ladders for wear and tightness on a monthly basis or every ten (10) hours of operating time, whichever comes first. a. Inspections shall be documented on the appropriate current form