Working on Roadways (PN 754) Flashcards
What does RTC stand for?
Road Traffic Collision
What does the note state MUST remain priority throughout the incident? (2)
‘Public Safety and Hazard Awareness’
Why do incidents involving partial closure of class ‘A’ roads and Motorways ‘present a greater hazard’?
Moving Vehicles will be encountered
There are 9 factors listed in the note that can influence the potential for further collisions during an incident. Can you name 6?
1) Visibility
2) Road Conditions (ice etc)
3) Incident Related Factors (smoke, load, fuel etc)
4) Road Configuration (width, bends etc)
5) Traffic
6) Traffic Management Measures
7) Time spent resolving incident
8) People
9) Driving on the hard shoulder (grip, debris etc)
What does SRS stand for?
Safety Restraint Systems
The note lists 9 ‘additional hazards’ which may be present at the scene of an RTC. Can you list 6?
1) Fuel fires
2) Projectile and flame jet
3) Live SRS that have not deployed
4) Alternate or Duel Fuel (LPG, high voltage etc)
5) Proximity Key electrical systems
6) Vehicle Contents (eg Hazmats)
7) Damaged Car Materials (glass, sharps etc)
8) Battery Acids
9) Biological (body fluids etc)
** What colour are all SRS system power leads in a vehicle?
Yellow
** Vehicles with electronic proximity keys are still live until the key is how many meters from the vehicle? **
20 meters
At which incidents should a ‘Police Accident’ sign be deployed?
ALL incidents where LFB personnel are working on the roadway unless the IC deems it unsafe for crews to do so
What does HATO stand for?
Highways Agency Transport Officer
On dual carriageways and motorways can Appliances cross the central reservation on approach to an incident?
No, unless the HATO or Police have stopped the traffic on that carriage way and direct you to use it
Which piece of legislation introduced new ‘powers’ and ‘responsibilities’ for Fire and Rescue Services attending RTC’s. The Fire and Rescue Services Act 2004, 2006 or 2010?
The Fire and Rescue Services Act 2004
The FRS Act 2004 empowers firefighters to do what 4 things in an Emergency?
1) Move or break into a vehicle without the consent of the owner
2) Close a highway
3) Stop and regulate traffic
4) Restrict the access of persons to the place concerned
When both are in attendance, who retains ‘overall primacy’ at an RTC, Police or Fire and Rescue?
Police
An IC should establish a clear understanding with partners with regard to establishing a ‘safe working area’. In the event of a disagreement the IC can do what?
Request the attendance of an LFB senior officer via Brigade Control
What is the minimum distance around the vehicle that an ‘Inner Circle’ (cordon) should be?
2 Metres
Under ‘initial actions’ what 3 things must the IC immediately ensure?
A) Create Safe Working Environment
B) Provide appropriate Extinguishing Media
C) Extinguish all fires
The ‘Outer Circle’ (cordon) should be a minimum of how many metres outside the ‘Inner Circle’?
5
What is the first information that the IC should ascertain upon arrival? (3)
The number of persons trapped, their location and the number of persons not trapped but needing medical attention
What should the IC consider establishing ‘and marking out with tape’ during a Rescue? (2)
‘Equipment’ and ‘Cut Parts’ dumps. To keep working areas clear.
Why should the IC initiate a search of the area as soon as is practicable?
Casualties may not always be confined to the vehicles involved (at night or in overgrown areas use the TIC
In the absence of the ambulance service how should casualties be prioritised?
In order of medical need
The ‘Vehicle Stabilisation Process’ has 5 steps listed in the note, what are they?
1) Switch of ignition and remove key
2) Isolate vehicles electrical supply (windows and seats may need to be moved first)
3) Removal of proximity keys to distance greater than 20m’s
4) Apply handbrake and put in gear
5) Block body and chock wheels
When must FRU’s not be returned from an incident?
When a ‘Persons Trapped’ informative message has been sent
Why must stabilisation be continually reassessed during casualty removal?
Altering the vehicles structure and removing casualties will reduce the weight and may then lift it off the blocks
Can LFB personnel use any equipment to stabilise a vehicle?
No they should only use equipment designed for that purpose
Can traffic cones be used for fend off positions, lane or road closures?
No. Police and Highways Agency are responsible for closing and managing traffic flow
In what circumstance must a lane be closed to traffic?
If there is ‘any encroachment’ by vehicles
What 3 things should personnel involved in treating casualties do?
1) Establish contact
2) Provide Reassurance
3) Undertake a casualty assessment
What 4 things should the IC consider when liaising with other agencies at the scene?
1) The scene may be a ‘crime scene’
2) Re-evaluating the effect on roadway as incident progresses
3) Movement or repositioning and it’s impact on safe working area
4) Maintaining a safe area of operations
What must be worn by the casualty handler and changed before helping another casualty?
‘Examination Gloves’ (Nitrile)
What is the ‘5,10,20 rule”?
The rule refers to guidance on safe working distances in inches from undeployed airbags:
5” for side curtains
10” for steering wheel
20” for front passenger
Not in the note
Should Glass from the vehicle always be broken or removed?
No it can be wound down or left if it is not near the scene of operations. The note states leave ‘Unless it’s absolutely necessary’
How many FF’s is the minimum required to undertake a windscreen removal; 1,2 or 3?
2
Joint Training with FRU crews and representatives from other agencies should be undertaken if possible. These programs should cover what 6 topics?
1) Identified Vehicle Risks
2) Vehicle Types, Materials and Construction
3) Vehicle Safety Systems
4) Casualty Handling
5) Stabilisation and extrication techniques
6) Incident Management
On approach appliances should reduce speed in order to:
1) Minimise risk of collisions with other road users
2) Identify how incident will affect other roads, carriageways, railways and infrastructure
3) To provide IC the opportunity to undertake an initial assessment of what 5 things?
1) Obvious Hazards
2) Appropriate Positioning for Appliances
3) Extent of Safe Area of Work
4) Safe Access and Egress to Incident
5) Affected Lane’s and how safe closure of road or carriageways can be achieved
** Most modern vehicles have SRS systems (seat belt pre-tensioners and Airbags) which may or may not have deployed. They should always be treated as live. After the vehicles electrical system has been isolated for how many minutes might an SRS system remain live? **
30 Minutes
Q no longer relevant
..
Modern convertible cars might contain what extra feature that, when undeployed, is a hazard?
Crash Deploying Roll Bars
What 3 types of dual fuel (petrol/diesel plus) vehicles are mentioned in the note?
LPG, Hydrogen and High Voltage (HV) Battery
What type of incidents can an RTC become where LPG is involved?
Cylinder or HAZMATs (when it is leaking)
What colour are HV cables?
Orange
Isolating the vehicles 12 Volt battery may not render all electrical power in a vehicle safe. Where might further information on vehicle systems be located?
Auto-data accessed via MDT
Vehicles should not leave a scene or be moved until what has happened? (2)
1) Personnel and other agencies have been informed
2) A plan to protect the working area is put in place
What must be maintained when leaving an incident and entering traffic flow?
High Visibility (blue lights and fend off)
Approximately how far apart should traffic cones be placed?
1 Metre
How might an RTC incident be sectorised?
By Vehicle
Where an incident is located ‘Across the central reservation of a motorway’ which lanes should be closed?
Lanes 2 and 3 of both carriageways
Where an RTC has occurred on a two way local roadway which lanes should be closed?
Both lanes
LFB have adopted ACPO guidance in using the term Road Traffic Collision (RTC). Why?
‘It avoids inferring any judgement on the cause or fault of any incident’. ACPO stands for the Association of Chief Police Officers
