Chapter 3: Apparatus Safety and Operating Emergency Vehicles Flashcards
- NFPA 1002
Standard for Fire Apparatus Driver/Operator Professional Qualifications
o Has established minimum qualifications for apparatus driver/operators
drivers should have the following characteristics
- Experience, knowledge, maturity, sense of responsibility, mental aptitude
- Promotion to driver/operator may require a:
minimum time of service
o A written test
o A performance evaluation
o Review of personnel records
o Combination of above
- Driver operators must have at least what certification
firefighter I
- All fire departments must establish and maintain a thorough…
training program to include regularly scheduled review and refresher courses that maintain driver/operator skills and introduce new concepts as they evolve
Driver/operators should possess the following abilities and skills:
reading skills
- Reading skills: ability to read in English and comprehend a variety of complex and technical materials such as:
o Manufacturers
o Manufacturer’s operating instructions
o Fire service manuals and periodicals
o Maps, dispatch instructions, and preincident plans
o Department standard operating procedures (SOP) or guidelines
Driver/operators should possess the following abilities and skills:
Computer skills - Sufficient computer skills to:
o Access computerized records, memos, bulletins, and manufacturers’ manuals, and pertinent maintenance and inspection records.
o Prepare and submit requests for supplies and equipment repair.
o Operate mobile computer (Figure 3.2).
o Access and operate online mapping software and dispatch instructions.
o Operate and understand mechanical and electronic systems such as governors, foam systems, and information systems.
o Understand directions from a GPS.
Driver/operators should possess the following abilities and skills:
- Writing skills
Complete maintenance forms, repair requests, and other standard forms and to write brief narratives on reports as required.
-Driver/operators should possess the following abilities and skills:
Mathematical skills
Solve mathematical equations such as friction loss
o calculations.
-Driver/operators should possess the following abilities and skills:
Physical fitness
Safely and efficiently perform strenuous tasks while under stressful fireground conditions (Figure 3.3).
Driver/operators may have
o Figure 3.3 Firefighters maintain their fitness level by performing various exercises such as running.
o to perform rigorous physical activities that include:
o Connecting an intake hose to a hydrant Hand-stretching a supply line to a hydrant
o Deploying a portable water tank
o Deploying hard sleeve hose for drafting operations Removing heavy or bulky equipment from compartments
o should be administered under the direction of the authority having jurisdiction (AH)) in order to establish and maintain a driver/operator’s fitness for duty.
who establishes the basic requirements for licensing a driver in Canada and USA
- Department of Transportation (DOT) establishes the basic requirements for licensing a driver
- In Canada Transport Canada (TC) has similar authority
o Federal regulations
o Individual state or province regulations
- Must be familiar with all pertinent traffic regulations including
o Federal
o State or provincial
o City
o NFPA
o department
Driver/operators must always exercise care for the safety of firefighters and civilians
- You must maintain complete control, adjust speed for driving conditions and operate in a manner consistent with the professional image of the fire service
- You are subject to all traffic regulations when driving under nonemergency conditions
- Driving statutes
describe vehicles that are in the emergency category
- Some jurisdictions, statutes may exempt emergency vehicles from driving regulations that apply to the general public if they are responding to a reported emergency
o These exceptions could include the following:
Speed limits
Direction of travel
Direction of turns
Parking statues and ordinances
Reckless disregard
an act of proceeding to do something with a conscious awareness of danger, while ignoring any potential consequences of so doing
o Harsher than ordinary negligence
Negligence
breach of duty in which a person or organization fails to perform at the standard required by law or that would be expected by a reasonable person under similar circumstances
o Usually found when the driver/operator has been found guilty of. A gross violation of standing laws, policies or ordinances
Gross negligence
willful and wanton disregard
o Ex driving under influence
Due regard
driver/operator drive with “due regard” for the safety of others using the highways
o This does not relieve the operator from the duty and responsibility to drive with “due regard” for the safety of others
most common place for collision
- Intersection
who reviews and publishes reports concerning firefighter fatalities including vehicular accidents
- The national institute for occupational safety and health (NIOSH)
what happens when A collision enroute to an emergency will end the response of the apparatus involved
o The vehicle and personnel assigned to it must remain at the scene of the collision to treat potential injuries, document damage and wait for the police
o Response to the original incident will be delayed as other units will be dispatched
In general fire apparatus collisions are grouped into seven basic causes, which reflect the lack of due regard and situational awareness
- Improper backing
- Reckless driving
- Excessive speed
- Lack of driving skill and experience
- Overloading and misuse
- Mechanical failure
- Driver/operator personal readiness
what accidents generally account for a significant percentage of all damage repair costs
Improper Backing
Many actions are considered reckless when driving a piece of fire apparatus including:
o Driving at an excessive speed
o Letting the apparatus run off a paved surface, onto a soft road shoulder
o Attempting to read a map, electronic device, talking on a cell phone or texting while driving
o Failing to abide by posted weight limits
o Following too close behind other apparatus or other vehicles
o Failing to obey posted traffic regulations or directions
o Failing to yield to other responding emergency vehicles
o Reacting with panic or unpredictable behavior to an approaching emergency vehicle
Brake fade
loss of braking function which occurs due to excessive use of the brakes
- Disc and drum brakes will both overheat if braking and driving habits are poor
Overheated brake components lose their ability to
stop the vehicle, regardless of the configuration of the braking system
what can ensure maximum braking efficiency
- Only effective handling and braking techniques
Lack of driving skills may result from:
o Overconfidence in your driving ability
o Inability to recognize a dangerous situation
Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) it was determined that in 42 percent of all collisions, the driver operator was not aware of a problem until it was too late to correct
o False sense of security because of a good driving record
o Misunderstanding of apparatus capabilities
Fire apparatus do not handle the same or stop as quickly as passenger vehicles
o Insufficient training on a piece on a piece of apparatus
Accident can occur because of
overloading, nonengineered modifications and misuse
Primary reason for the daily pretrip inspection
whereby mechanical failures can be minimized and personnel and public safety is enhanced
- Poor maintenance can lead to
failures that result in collisions
Some causes of driver/operator impairment (although temporary) may include, but are not limited to, effects from:
o Substance abuse
o Prescription drug and some over the counter drugs taken as firected
o Personal issues such as divorce, bankruptcy or impending hardship
o Death in the family
o Illness
o Depression
o Fatigue
- Most SOP to don their protective gear before getting into the apparatus, with the exception of their helmets per NFPA 1500….
- One possible exception to this is the driver/operator
- If SOP allows, the driver operatore may wish to don protective clothing after arriving at the scene
- All riders must be seated within the cab or body and wearing their seat belts before the apparatus is put into motion
Loading fire hose while driving the apparatus is common when loading large diameter hose. NFPA 1500 provides the following directions on how these operations should be performed:
o Train all members specifically on how to perform the moving hose load operation
o Assign at least one member, other than the driver/operator and the firefighters actually loading the hose, as a safety observer to the operation
The observer must have constant visual contact with the loading operation, as well as visual and voice communication with the driver/operator
o Close the area in which the hose loading is being performed to other vehicular traffic
o Drive the apparatus only in a forward direction, straddling or to one side of the hose and at a speed no greater than 5mph (10kmh)
o Do not allow members to stand on any portion of the apparatus while the vehicle is in motion
One of the most common causes of injury for the driver/operator is from
slips and falls when entering and exiting the apparatus. Slips and falls can injure and kill.
Be aware of the importance of using safe methods, and ensure that others using the apparatus use the same careful approach.
o Always face inward toward steps and handholds when entering, exiting, and climbing.
o Do not step or climb upon any vehicle surface unless it is slip resistant and handholds are provided
o Be aware that certain steps may be a pivoting or folding design. Be certain that such steps are firmly engaged in the weight-bearing position before placing full weight on the step.
When climbing on or off vehicle, always
o Face the vehicle.
o Use steps and handholds.
o Maintain three points of contact with vehicle (two feet and one hand or two hands and one foot).
o Keep steps, handholds, shoes, and walkways clean of grease, mud, dirt, fuel, ice, and snow.
o Use extra caution when wet, icy, or muddy.
o Replace surfaces when worn.
Starting the apparatus
- When preparing to start the apparatus, wether for sn emergency response or routine trip, the driver/operator must first know the destination and route of travel
Idling the engine
- Allowing a disel engine to idle unnecessarily will waste fuel and may lead to the building of carbon injectors, valves, and pistons and may cause damage to internal engine components and emission systems
Diesel Particulate Filters
- Beginning with engines produced in 2007
- The DPF collects particulates (soot) from the exhaust stream and burns them more completely
- Apparatus equipped with DPF will have very clean exhaust emissions and no black smoke as is common with older disel engines
- The driver and operator needs to be familiar with the operation of the DPF and the significance of the following items:
o High exhaust system temperature (HEST) indicator: lights when the exhaust system is very hot, usually due to an active regeneration in process
o DPF indicator: lights to indicate that the DPF is loading up with soot
o Maual (parked) regeneration switch: allows driver/operator to manually initiate an active regeneration to burn off the DPF soot load
o Regeneration inhibit switch: allows the driver/operator to keep the engine from initiating an active regeneration process
Used in limited circumstances if the apparatus is parked on dry grass or over other combustible material
- If the apparatus makes frequent short runs, or operates in very cold climates, the exhaust may
never get hot enough to burn out the soot and an active regeneration is required
- Active regeneration can occur in two manners:
o Automatic mode
o Manual (parked) mode
- Automatic regeneration
: occurs when the engine load, exhaust temperature and engine speed are within an acceptable range. When the conditions are met, the engine will begin dosing fuel into the exhaust stream to raise the exhaust temperature and burn off the soot
Parked regeneration
allows the cleaning of the DPF in stationary truck operations and requires operator involvement to initiate
o Notified by DPF light
o Cannot be initiated during pumping operations
Regeneration in general greatly increases the
temperature of the exhaust exiting the tailpipe
- An apparatus equipped with Selective Catalyst Reductant (SCR) will have a tank in addition to the fuel tank that must be filled with
Diesel Exhaust Fluid (DEF)
- Failing to keep the DEF tank full may
derate(reduce its torque output) the apparatus engine, or limit the vehicle speed
Shutting down the engine
- Never shut down an engine immediately after a full load operation or when the temperature gauge indicates that the engine is overheated
- Usually an idling time of 3-5mins is sufficient
Shutting down an engine without sufficient cool down may result in the following:
o Immediate increase of engine temperature from lack of coolant circulation
o Oil film “burning” on hot surfaces
o Damage to heads and exhaust manifolds
o Damage to the turbocharger that can result in seizure
Shutting down the engine while the apparatus is in motion will
cut off fuel flow from the injectors
o Fuel flow through the injectors is required for lubrication anytime the injector plunger is moving
o Fuel pressure can build up behind the shutoff valve and prevent the valve from opening
Should be aware of the following issues pertaining to driving the vehicle in nonemergency situations:
o Adjusting mirrors
o Potential points of contact
o Driving downhill
o Driving off road
o Visual lead time
o Bridges and railroad crossing
o Adverse wether
Adjusting mirrors
- Mirrors help minimize blind spots before placing the apparatus in motion
- Essential that mirror adjustment take place at the start of each shift, or any time the driver changes
- Once blind spots are identified, compensate for this lack of vision while driving by slowing down before making turns or lane changes
Transmissions
- Apparatus equipped with automatic transmisions are becoming the norm for many fire department
- Eliminating much of the driver decision making regarding when to shifts gears will reduce the likehood of the engine sustaining damage from lugging
- Manual transmission apparatus are becoming less prevelant in todays fire service