PN 754 Working On Roadways

Question 1

What must remain a priority thoughout the inc ?

Answer 1

Crew and public safety and hazard awareness.

Question 2

The risk of collision remains during all phases of the inc including driving away from scene the potential for further collisions are influenced by ?

Answer 2

Visibility:affected by fog,rain,sunshine,darkness and smoke
Road conditions: snow,ice,rain,flooding,pot-holes
Inc factors:debris,damaged street furniture,oil/fuel,hazardous loads, smoke ,fire,time of day
Road configuration: sharp bends,undulations,widths,access roads,class of road,road works,tunnels bridges
Traffic:speed,density,drivers slowing / fail to respond,cyclist
Time personnel are on roadway:
People: casualties,onlookers public offering assistance
Driving on hard shoulder: surface does not offer same level of grip, may contain debris, being used by members of the public

Question 3

What are additional hazards that may be present at the scene of a RTC?

Answer 3

Fuel fires:
Projectile and flame jet hazards: associated with gas struts,drive shafts units or pneumatic suspension systems.
live supplementary restraint systems: not deployed
Alternative duel fuel vehicles: LPG or High voltage electricity (battery isolation may not render power cells safe)
Electric systems:may remain live due to proximity keys, until system disabled
Vehicle contents:commercial freight may contain hazardous substance
Damaged car construction:sharp metal,glass,carbon fibres,plastics
Battery acid:
Biological: risks associated with body fluids.

Question 4

The fire services act 2004 introduced new powers and responsibilities for FRS with regard to RTC ?

Answer 4

In a emergency a FF may for the purpose of rescuing people/protecting them from harm:
Move or break into a vehicle without consent of owner
Close a highway
Stop and regulate traffic
Restrict the access of persons to the place concerned

Question 5

When inc is on “class A” roads who may attend?

Answer 5

Highways agency : their principle role is to manage traffic, reduce congestion and improving traffic flow, but their primary role is to provide us with a safe working area.
The police retain overall primacy when they are in attendance at all inc
Ideally a coordinated response should be taken from all agencies in attendance. The IC should confirm with all agencies a understanding of establishing a safe working area on the roadway as the IC is responsible for the safety of LFB personnel and the impact of LFB operations on others.

Question 6

In the event of any disagreement between agencies regarding establishing a safe area of operations the IC should ?

Answer 6

Request the attendance of a LFB senior officer via control.

Question 7

Pre-planning for roadways should include a awareness of ?

Answer 7

Access and exit points 
RVP
Water supplies 
Drainage and water courses. 
This info will support safe and effective operations at inc and the potential affect on the environment,

Question 8

Station, borough and area programmed training should cover?

Answer 8

Identified vehicle risks
Vehicle types,materials and construction
Vehicle safety systems
Casualty handling
Stabilisation and extraction techniques 
Incident management

Question 9

What will increase levels of crew safety at incidents ?

Answer 9

Effective and regular liaison with other emergency services in order to understand their procedures and practices will improve levels of co-operation and increase levels of crew safety.

Awareness of adj FRS procedures essential where their is regular mutual assistance for “cross border” inc

Question 10

When en route and the information is received what should the IC do?

Answer 10

Info and relevant details affecting tactics must passed to all personnel and other appliances attending including:
Confirmed location
Significant hazard
RVP’s
Road blocked or other causes for delay
Prevailing weather conditions including wind direction at scene carrying smoke or airborne hazardous materials

Question 11

Appliances approaching inc should be driven with caution in order to ?

Answer 11

Minimise risk of collision
Provide the IC with a opportunity to undertake a initial assessment and determine
. obvious hazards
. the appropriate positioning of appliance
. The extent of a safe area to work
. Safe access and egress
. Which lanes will be affected and how safe closure may be achieved
And how the inc will affect other roads, carriageways, railways and other nearby infrastructure.

Question 12

Appliances and crews on approach MUST NOT?

Answer 12

On motorways and dual carriageways they MUST NOT cross central reservation or approach inc on the opposite carriageway
(Exception to this traffic stopped by police/HATO and only then under their direction)

Appliance MUST NOT stop in the outside lane at any time to inc on opposite carriageway (except where inc has spread across central reservation, then a fend off position must be adopted prior to ops commencing)

Question 13

Where should appliances park at inc ?

Answer 13

pumping appliances In fend off before the inc

Special appliances beyond inc where possible / appropriate , creating the boundaries of safe working area

Question 14

The IC must ensure on arrival that ?

Answer 14

. The size of the safe area created is suitable for the type and loc of inc
. Sufficient space is available to allow movement of FRS,equipment deployment of extinguishing media and access/ egress of other services
. Appliances positioned & illuminated with consideration to road layout such as bends /dips prevailing weather and lighting conditions

Question 15

Where appropriate a request should be made to control for?

Answer 15

A message to be displayed on overhead gantries and matrix sights to warn approaching traffic
This request should contain as much relevant info as possible include road numbers, direction of carriageway,roadside marker posts,junction nos bridge or underpass Id’s or emergency telephone id’s

Question 16

What are the operational safety considerations ?

Answer 16

High visibility of appliances and personnel is essential when working near moving vehicles esp roads with fast moving traffic /sharp bends or undulations
High vis clothing takes priority over requirement to wear any other identification tabard
Traffic tape and cones used to identify boundary of safe area to warn crews of moving traffic
Appoint safety officers to manage safe area of operations

Question 17

Where LFB lighting is used what should be considered ?

Answer 17

Lighting should be provided to illuminate the scene without creating a hazard by dazzling other road users

Question 18

Who does not need to wear Hi Vis ?

Answer 18

BA teams should not rig in Hi Vis But must only operate within the defined safe working area

Question 19

With regard intersections and slip roads Where a inc has occurred either on or off a dual carriageway ?

Answer 19

Prompt closer of the access point should be made as there is a increased risk of the physical characteristics of roadway affecting viewing distance of road users approaching inc

Question 20

The police accident sign must only be deployed if it’s safe to do so on instruction of the OIC when they have considered ?

Answer 20

The exposure of LFB personnel to fast moving traffic
Road layout, such as bends/dips
Prevailing weather conditions that may affect visibility
Sufficient lighting during darkness to ensure sign can be seen
the sign must located in a position which doesn’t obstruct moving vehicles and prior to bends,dips or other obstructions which reduce visibility to vehicles approaching inc
If it’s considered not safe to deploy request attendance of police/HATO

Question 21

Hazardous load identification may be established through ?

Answer 21

Vehicle / package markings
Hazard identification plates
Load manifest documents

Question 22

Any action taken to open traffic lanes,remove debris,re-position
Appliance/emergency vehicles may ?

Answer 22

Have a direct impact on the safe area of operations the IC must make any any nec adjustments to maintain the safe area and inform all personal

Question 23

At RTC the IC actions must ensure that ?

Answer 23

Creation of Safe working area
Appropriate FF media
All fires extinguished
Ascertain: no/loc of persons trapped; no/loc of persons not trapped but require med attention,when practical thorough search of area as persons not always confined to vehicles or immediate area
If ambulance not in attendance Prioritise casualties
Assess and request resources required
Note FRU’s must NOT be returned where a “persons trapped” message has been sent

Question 24

To manage the incident the must consider ?

Answer 24

Early appointment of sector commanders and safety officers
Establish inner circle (2m around perimeter of vehicles)
Establish outer circle (5m around perimeter of vehicles)
Euipment and cut parts dump to keep working area clear of hazards

Question 25

When stabilising a vehicle, and isolating the vehicle electrical supply what needs to be considered?

Answer 25

The need for electrical system to wind down Windows and move seats etc (these should be completed prior to isolation)
the operating distance of Proximity keys varies they should always be considered live until keys is at least 20 away
Guidance for battery operated vehicles is on Auto-data via MDT

Question 26

FF’s at a inc who provide care a must ?

Answer 26

Continue to do so until an appropriate suitable trained professional arrives at scene and is ready to take over
Wear examination gloves ( a new pair must be worn for each casualty to avoid risk of cross contamination )

Question 27

What needs to be remembered with supplementary restraints systems (SRS)

Answer 27

SRS consists of air bags/ seat belt pre-tensioners
Residual power in vehicle electric system may remain for up to 30min
SRS power connections will be coloured yellow
When airbag deployed in closed vehicle , it should be vented Asap
Deployed air bags should not be cut as this will spread residue further
Crash deploying roll bar systems on convertible cars activate using acceleration and tilt information in a RTC if the control is damaged there’s poss of post accident actuation with out warning and with considerable force/speed

Question 28

What are the considerations with duel fuel vehicles ?

Answer 28

The supplementary system may be powered by LPG, hydrogen or HV battery system
LPG involved in a fire, inc treated as a cylinder inc
LPG leaking & not involved treated as a hazards substance
HV electric system should always be treated as live even if engine not running removal of key and disconnection of 12v battery may not render all sources safe
HV cables are always coloured Orange

Question 29

What are the fend of positions for two way local road

Answer 29

Fend off front and rear of inc across both lanes completely stopping traffic and making a safe area

Question 30

What is the fend off positions for 3 lane carriageway with regard
Hard shoulder 
Lane 1
Lane 2
Lane 3
Across central reservation

Answer 30

For all inc pumps at front specialists at rear
Hard shoulder: fend off hard shoulder and lane 1
Lane 1: fend off part of hard shoulder and 1&2
Lane 2: fend off lane 1,2&3
Lane 3: fend off lanes 2&3
Across central reservation:fend off lanes 2&3 of both carriageways
Note traffic cones MUST NOT be used for fend off positions, lane/road closures they are designate a safe area and where possible depended on the inc and no of cones placed 1m apart