Ch 3 Apparatus Safety and Operating Emergency Vehicles

Question 1

NFPA 1002

Answer 1

Standard for fire apparatus driver/operator professional qualifications

Question 2

NFPA 1001

Answer 2

Standard for firefighter professional qualifications for firefighter 1

Question 3

NFPA 1500

Answer 3

Standard on fire department occupational safety and health program

Question 4

NFPA 1582

Answer 4

Standard on comprehensive occupational medical program for fire departments

Question 5

NFPA 1451

Answer 5

Standard for a fire service vehicle operations training program

Question 6

Skills and Physical Abilities needed by the Driver Operator

Answer 6

Reading skills
1. Maps
2. Manufacturer operating instructions
3. Pre-incident plans
4. CAD instructions
5. Mobile Data Terminal
Computer Skills
Writing Skills
1. Maintenance, incident, and repair reports
Math Skills
1. Hydraulic Calculations
Physical Fitness
1. NFPA1500 Standard on fire department occupational safety and health program
2. Hydrant connection
3. Hand hose stretch
4. Portable water tank deployment
Vision and Hearing Requirements
1. NFPA 1582 Standard on comprehensive occupational medical program for fire departments
2. Far visual acuity of 20/40 with contacts or glasses
3. Rejection of candidate with hearing loss of 40 dB or more in unaided ear ( frequencies of 500-1000-2000 Hz)
4. Rejection of candidate with hearing loss of 40 dB or more in any one of the four frequencies (500-1000-2000-3000 Hz)
Other Skills
1. Mechanical are recommended but not required

Question 7

Selection of Driver Operators

Answer 7

NFPA 1451 Standard for a fire service vehicle operations training program
- Based on minimum time of service and written and performance tests

Question 8

Driving Regulations

Answer 8

• Driver operators are regulated by state/provincial laws, city ordinances, and Dept. SOPs
• Ignorance is “no defense”
• Subject to all statues, laws and ordinances that govern any vehicle operator
• In United States the federal Department of Transportation (DOT) establishes requirements for licensing
• Each state or province has latitude to alter regulations as necessary
• Regulations pertain to clear dry roads
• No exemptions for school zones and/or busses

Question 9

Licensing Requirements

Answer 9

• Federal DOT regulates basic requirements for licensing drivers in United States
• TC (Transport Canada) regulates basic requirements for licensing drivers in Canada
• Some states require a CDL (commercial driver’s license)

Question 10

Negligence

Answer 10

when driver is found guilty of gross violation of standing laws, policies, or ordinances

Question 11

The most common place for a collision to occur

Answer 11

at an instersection

Question 12

7 basic causes of fire apparatus collisions

Answer 12

-Improper backing
-Reckless Driving- Failing to abide by posted weight/speed limits, or posted traffic regs/directions
-Excessive Speed- Make vehicle difficult to stop and cause brake fade (overheated brakes)
-lack of Driving Skill
-Overloading and misuse
-Mechanical Failure- Poor maintenance of apparatus, especially braking system can lead to failure and crash
-Driver/operator personal readiness- Impairments such as drug/alcohol abuse, Death in family, illness, depression, fatigue

Question 13

Apparatus Rider Safety

Answer 13

-All riders must be seated within the cab and wearing seatbelt. Donn PPE prior to getting in cab
-NFPA 1901 standard for automotive fire apparatus
-Loading hose while driving apparatus is common with 4-inch supply hose
-Must have a safety observer
-vehicle may only be driving forward, next to or straddling hose, 5mph
-close area to traffic
-Firefighters should never be allowed to ride on tailboard, front bumper, or running boards
-or stand on any portion of the truck while in motion

Question 14

Starting, idling, shutting down apparatus

Answer 14

-Allowing engine to idle unnecessarily will waste fuel and lead to buildup of carbon in injectors, valves and pistons
-High Exhaust System Temperature- Lights when system is very hot, usually regeneration in progress
-DPF Indicator- Lights to indicate DPF is loading up with soot
-DEF fluid added every time truck is fueled
-Manual Parked Regeneration Switch- To manually initiate regeneration to burn of DPF
-Regeneration Inhibit Switch- Allows driver to keep the engine from initiating active regeneration
-Active regeneration can also occur when the truck is parked (notified by light in cab)
-Never shut down immediately after a full load or gauge reads overheated
-Shutting down engine may cause damage to heads and exhaust manifolds. Idling time of 3-5 min is usually sufficient

Question 15

Driving apparatus

Answer 15

-Adjust mirrors at start of each shift to minimize blind spots
Angle off Approach- Angle formed by level ground where front tires touch ground to front of apparatus
Angel of Departure- Angle formed by level ground where rear tires touch ground to rear of apparatus
Breakover Angel- Angel formed on level ground where rear tires touch ground to bottom of frame at wheel base midpoint
-Use only as much steering as needed to keep weight transfer to minimum
-Little weight on driving axle will cause poor traction
-Driving downhill use service break and auxiliary brakes as manually shifting to lower gears to limit speed
Engine Lugging- Throttle applied when manual transmission is in too high a gear for the demand on engine
Over throttling- Occurs with diesel engine, more fuel is injected than can be burned
-May take 3 to 15 times greater distance to stop in snow or ice than dry pavement
-Bridges will become slippery more easily in adverse weather

Question 16

Warning devices

Answer 16

-Equipped with audible and visual devices response to true emergencies
-Slow moving traffic warning devices may be used to help negotiate passage
-At speeds of 50 mph emergency vehicle may outrun the siren
-incr 20mph can decrease audible distance by 250 ft
-More than one emergency vehicle should travel 300 to 500 feet apart
-White lights are readably visible in daylight
-Do not drive with high beams, headlights should be dim
-Scene floodlights may reduce the reflective trim on firefighters PPE

Question 17

Traffic control

Answer 17

-Enter intersections with caution even with a green light
-Strobe light activated preemption device- Generates signal that is received by traffic light as apparatus approaches
-Traffic signal preemption device- Activated by vehicles siren
-white light indicates it’s been activated, will show blue light on all other directions
-Can be adjusted from couple hundred feet to half a mile
Gps traffic signal- Data can be transmitted to a radio receiver on traffic light to change
-Determine location, speed, and status of apparatus

Question 18

Intersections and passing other vehicles

Answer 18

-Most likely place for collision to occur
-Make every attempt to make eye contact with other drivers
-Vehicles should pull to the right, stop, clear intersections to yield for emergency vehicles
-Avoid making sharp quick motions
-Travel on the innermost lane
-Avoid passing vehicles on right side (drivers usually pull over to the right)
-Be certain that opposing lanes of traffic are clear before crossing the center line
-Avoid passing other emergency vehicles

Question 19

Stopping and Braking

Answer 19

-Visual lead time- Time needed to stop apparatus or perform an evasive maneuver
-Braking Distance- Distance from time brakes are applied to complete stop
-Total Stopping Distance- Sum of driver reaction distance to breaking distance
-Reaction Distance- Distance takes driver to transfer foot from accelerator to the brake pedal
-2 Types of skidding acceleration and locked
-Acceleration- Usually occur when gas pedal applied to quickly
-Locked Wheel Skid- Caused by braking to hard at a high rate of speed and locking the wheels

Question 20

Factors affecting the ability to stop

Answer 20

• road conditions
• speed
• weight
• type and condition of vehicles tires and braking system

Question 21

Skids
(Types and causes from driver error)

Answer 21

-2 Types of skidding:
-Acceleration- Usually occur when gas pedal applied to quickly
-Locked Wheel Skid- Caused by braking to hard at a high rate of speed and locking the wheels
-Factors:
- driving too fast for road condition
- failing to anticipate hazards
- improper use of aux brakes
- improper maintenance of tire pressure and adequate tread depth

Question 22

Antilock Braking Systems (ABS)

Answer 22

-Minimize chance of vehicle skidding when brakes are applied forcefully
-Uses onboard computer to monitor each wheel and controls brake pressure
-Using sensing device to monitor the speed of each wheel, sending a signal to the onboard computer
-Receives information when wheel begins to lock up
-Reduce brake pressure (DO NOT PUMP) and allowing the wheel to continue to turn

Question 23

Auxiliary Brake Systems

Answer 23

• NFPA 1901- requires all apparatus w/ GVWR of 36,000lbs or greater to have one of the following aux brakes:
• Exhaust Brakes- Is least capable uses valve to restrict flow of exhaust creating back pressure to brake
• Engine Compression- Converts the mechanical energy of vehicle into heat and discharging pressure
• Electromagnetic- Create electrical power to series of coils
  
  • Applies brakes to aim vehicle in direction the operator positions steering wheel
• Transmission Retarders- Transmission fluid is introduced into the housing and energy is absorbed

Question 24

Auxiliary Traction Control Systems

Answer 24

• Manually applied tire chains (may be ineffective in snow deeper 3-6 inches)
• Automatic Traction Control- Reduces engine torque, applies brakes to wheels that lost traction, and transfers torque to wheels w/ traction
• Driver Controlled differential Lock- Improve traction during off-road and wet weather
• Interaxle Differential Lock- Allows operator to lock -out the interaxle differential between rear tandem driving axles, creating one solid drive line between rear axles
  
  • leave unlocked until anticipated poor traction condition
  • ease up on throttle when shifting in and out
  • DO NOT activation while any wheels are slipping or spinning

Question 25

Stability Control Systems

Answer 25

• Roll Stability Control (RCS) - integrated into ABS, uses lateral accelerometer that senses roll-over threshold, reducing torque and applying brakes
• Electronic Stability Control (ECS) - more capable than RCS, applies brakes independently to aim vehicle in the direction of positioned steering wheel

Question 26

Backing Apparatus

Answer 26

-Sound two short blast on air horn
Spotter- One or more back up safety persons used to back vehicles
-Spotter wears reflective vest
-Spotter will stand 8 to 10 feet in back of vehicle (slightly to the left)
-The best mirror to use is on the side that is backing into the most hazardous area
-Rearview mirrors in wet or snowy weather rapidly become obstructed
-A spotter should use 6 main hand signals in slow, exaggerated motion
Backing straight- Back and forth motion of both arms
Backing toward the left- Back and forth motion with right hand left hand pointing left
Backing toward the right- Back and forth motion with left hand right hand pointing right
Slowing Down- Arms outstretched to the sides with palms facing down
Pulling forward- Palms out and motions back and forth
Stop- Form letter x with both arms

Question 27

Tillering

Answer 27

-Be aware of grades and slopes
- Traveling forward:
- Place both hands near top of steering wheel
- Jackknifing occurs when trailer and cab are at angles less then 90
- Backing Maneuvers:
- Hands 3 and 9-wheels turn right trailer goes left vice versa

Question 28

Working safely around apparatus

Answer 28

-Always close swing-up or swing-out compartment doors
-Have second person present when working on top of apparatus
-Hose will not come loose during travel
-Equipment secured in brackets or contained in a storage cabinet
-Hydraulic fluids can be toxic to human tissue
-Remove discharge caps slowly and carefully
- ensure no trapped pressure, open bleeder valve