5031 Traffic Work Zones at Incident Scenes (safety)

Question 1

What policy number is

Traffic Work Zones at Incident Scenes

Answer 1

5031

Safety

Question 2

Define

Advance Warning

Answer 2

A visual indication for approaching motorists to warn of an upcoming roadway hazard.

Question 3

Define

Buffer Zone.

Answer 3

A safe space or distance between the protected work zone and the moving traffic.

Question 4

Define

Downstream.

Answer 4

Area from which traffic flow leaves a roadway incident.

Question 5

Define

Emergent Traffic Zones

Answer 5

Areas of operation that take place on or near active roadways, including, but not limited to:

1. Motor vehicle accidents
2. Vehicle fires
3. Downed power lines
4. Grass/brush fires along roadways

Question 6

Define

Upstream.

Answer 6

Area from which traffic flow approaches a roadway incident.

Question 7

TFD personnel shall wear the following forms of high visibility/reflective clothing when working in emergent traffic zones

Answer 7

a. Structural firefighting helmets properly donned at all times

b. Structural firefighting PPE donned prior to beginning work at roadway incidents
involving activities such as fire suppression, standby with hose lines or extinguishers, or extrication activities involving exposure to broken glass and jagged metal

Question 8

When not wearing structural PPE, TFD personnel shall wear

Answer 8

a high visibility/reflective vest and helmet at all times while working in emergent traffic zones.

Question 9

TFD personnel may

Answer 9

-Don structural firefighting helmets and high visibility/reflective vests over a department issued uniform or uniform service coat without structural PPE in an emergent traffic zone if s/he will not be involved in fire suppression, standby with hose lines, or extrication assignments that expose them to hazards such as broken
glass and jagged metal

-Wear a high visibility/reflective vest over a uniform service coat when his/her activities at the scene do not warrant the use of structural PPE

Question 10

TFD personnel who are actively involved in ALS procedures or rendering emergent or
urgent BLS care in emergent traffic zones may

Answer 10

take off his/her structural PPE and/or
helmet if it interferes with or hinders his/her ability to administer patient care.

a. In these cases, TFD personnel are required instead to wear a high visibility/reflective vest while such procedures are performed or while outside of
the medic unit

Question 11

TFD personnel shall not

Answer 11

a. Operate in an emergent traffic zone wearing only his/her department issued
uniform

b. Wear an orange high visibility vest over his/her turnout clothing when involved in active firefighting in an emergent traffic zone

Question 12

The first arriving company shall park the apparatus in a

Answer 12

block position with the front wheels turned in a direction that points away from the work zone to protect the incident scene, patients and emergency response personnel

Question 13

Whenever possible, the block position of the apparatus shall be at a

Answer 13

a. Minimum 45 degree angle to upstream traffic AND

b. Sufficient distance to prevent an upstream vehicle from knocking the blocking
apparatus into the work zone or personnel
i. Typically blocking one lane in addition to what is already obstructed will provide this margin of safety

Question 14

If the incident occurs at an intersection or in the middle of a roadway

Answer 14

TFD personnel shall attempt to block all exposed sides.

Question 15

When responding apparatus numbers are limited, TFD personnel shall prioritize blocking of exposed sides as follows

Answer 15

a. Block the closest approaching traffic, then
b. Block the highest speed approaching traffic, then
c. Block the highest volume approaching traffic

Question 16

If a hose line may be needed, TFD personnel shall

Answer 16

park the apparatus so that the pump

panel is downstream and on the opposite side of the oncoming traffic.

Question 17

At residential medical emergencies, medic units and private ambulances shall

Answer 17

be parked in driveways whenever possible.

Question 18

For effective incident scene management and to avoid possible confusion when assigning apparatus to positions and tasks, freeway lanes shall be numbered?

Answer 18

from right to left as one faces the direction of travel.
EXAMPLE: Far right lane would be Lane #1; the next lane to the left would be Lane #2
and so on.

Question 19

The first arriving company shall park the apparatus in a block position with the front
wheels turned in a

Answer 19

direction that points away from the work zone to protect the incident scene, patients and emergency response personnel

Question 20

The second arriving company shall create a buffer zone by

Answer 20

parking the apparatus 150 to 200 feet upstream of the first apparatus in a block position with the front wheels turned in
a direction that points away from the work zone.

Question 21

Other apparatus shall be parked

Answer 21

downstream of the incident, if possible.
6. Medic units and/or ambulances may be staged and brought up to the incident scene as
needed.

Question 22

The Incident Commander shall exercise one of the following options if the safety of the
personnel cannot be assured

Answer 22

a. STOP the flow of traffic until the fire department task is accomplished and
scene personnel can move out of the exposed position OR

b. Reduce the traffic flow to a pace that guarantees the safety of scene personnel

Question 23

The Incident Commander also shall

Answer 23

a. Evaluate the need for identifying a primary and secondary escape route and
communicate these to scene personnel

b. Consider reducing to appropriate levels the number of flashing lights, strobes and headlights on emergency apparatus that are at the roadway incident scene to lessen the potential for vision impairment and/or confusion for motorists

Question 24

Whenever possible, the first arriving company shall

Answer 24

-place traffic cones at the scene to
direct traffic.

-Traffic cones shall be placed a minimum of 150 feet upstream of the blocking apparatus
to delineate a buffer zone.