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Highway Incident Safetyfor Emergency Responders
[email protected] Sullivan, CSP, CFPSLt. & Safety Officer (ret.)Lionville Fire Co., Lionville, PA
“ It Was Just A Routine Call……”
Lionville Fire Company• Volunteer station• 90 members, 35 firefighters• Suburban, commercial, industrial
and residential area, with 10 miles of the Pennsylvania Turnpike
• 3 Engines, Tanker, Rescue, Brush Truck & Safety House
• 525+ runs per year • Uwchlan Ambulance, >2000 runs/yr.
2 career personnel & 60 volunteers
Incident Overview
• March 9, 1998 - Raining with wet roadways
• Initial alarm was at 14:10 for a car in a ditch, on the Pennsylvania Turnpike, just west of the Downingtown Interchange, Milepost 310.9
• Uwchlan Ambulance and Lionville Fire / Rescue responded with an Ambulance, Engine, Rescue, the Chief & an Assistant Chief.
Original Incident
Pontiac Grand Am, westbound on the Turnpike, lost control and slid into the drainage ditch.
Scene Diagram
Shoulder
Grass
Ditch
Right Lane
Fast Lane
Pa. Turnpike West Bound
Jersey Barrier
Scene Diagram
Shoulder
Grass
Ditch
Right Lane
Fast Lane
Pa. Turnpike West Bound
Jersey Barrier
Scene Diagram
Shoulder
Grass
Ditch
Right Lane
Fast Lane
Pa. Turnpike West Bound
Jersey Barrier
Scene Diagram
Shoulder
Grass
Ditch
Right Lane
Fast Lane
Pa. Turnpike West Bound
Jersey Barrier
Scene Diagram
Shoulder
Grass
Ditch
Right Lane
Fast Lane
Pa. Turnpike West Bound
Jersey Barrier
Scene Diagram
Shoulder
Grass
Ditch
Right Lane
Fast Lane
Pa. Turnpike West Bound
Jersey Barrier
Scene Diagram
Shoulder
Grass
Ditch
Right Lane
Fast Lane
Pa. Turnpike West Bound
Jersey Barrier
Aftermath of the Crash• 8 firefighters and 2 EMT’s involved in the crash
– One fatality, 9 serious injuries
• Original injured patient and two good Samaritans
• Heavy radio traffic due to weather related calls
• Mass confusion at the scene immediately after
• Many assist companies self -dispatched
• Weather grounded Medivac right after crash
Aftermath of the Crash• Assistant Chief was disabled for several months
– Eventually resigned from the FD
• FF Mike Cox has undergone numerous surgeries to repair his injured legs, and had ongoing PT
• Ongoing meetings and negotiation with the PA Turnpike Commission to improve response procedures
• Change in Lionville’s response procedure to Trpk
Firefighter FatalitiesStruck By Vehicles
3 3 3
4
1 1 1
2 2
4
5 5 5 5
'87 '88 '89 '90 '91 '92 '93 '94 '95 '96 '97 '98 '99 '000
1
2
3
4
5
6
# Fatalities
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Similar Police Dept. Incidents
• The National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund, and the Concerns of Police Survivors
– 20 police officers died after being struck by vehicles outside of their cruisers in 2000
Firefighters responding to calls,need to operate
“as if someone is trying to run them over”
James Joyce, CommissionerChicago Fire Dept.
January 2001
Lessons to Reinforce• Build awareness through more intense training
– Firefighter I or EMT - B classes– Station or Company Orientation– Annual In Service Training– Bulletins, SOG’s, Lessons from Losses– Evaluate apparatus placement & safety procedures
during all drills and training sessions.
Lessons to Reinforce• Multi-agency coordination & communication
– Fire, EMS mutual aid agencies– Law Enforcement agencies– DOT, wrecker services, HazMat contractors– Preplan traffic control plans for major routes– Table top drills with mutual aid agencies ?
Lessons to Reinforce• Limit the Exposure
– Minimum Apparatus & Personnel– Limit crews on scene to only those necessary
• Limit the time on scene– Clear-up crews as soon as possible
Lessons to Reinforce• Need for advance warning to slow passing traffic
– Arrow Boards, Flares, Cones, Police Cars, DOT signage– Variable Message Signs, News Media / Traffic Reports
• Apparatus Positioning and Arrangement– Guard the scene, guard the crew– Park apparatus at an angle
• Work on side away from traffic– Pump Operators, Location of equipment on rigs– Look ! Before disembarking apparatus
• Shut Down the Roadway– Not Popular with Law Enforcement or the public– May be Necessary ! - Plan for it in advance.
Lessons to Reinforce
Right Lane
Fast Lane
Jersey Barrier
• Scene Lighting– Reduce emergency lights, Use “Blocking” mode,
Sign Boards, Arrow Boards, Arrow sticks– Increase use of amber lenses
(more apt to slow traffic)– Provide scene illumination after dark– Presence of Police vehicles shown to slow traffic
Lessons to Reinforce
Lessons to Reinforce• Require Retro-reflective or Florescent clothing / PPE
– Structural gear may not offer “high visibility”– Safety Vests - Get them & Use Them !– ANSI 107-1999 High Visibility Safety Apparel
• Class I - Traffic < 25 mph, separation from traffic• Class II - Traffic > 25 mph, inclement weather, directing traffic• Class III - Traffic > 50 mph, emergency responders
– Co. Officers monitor & enforce their usage ?– SO carry spares ?– Vests on apparatus ? Assigned to each person ?
ANSI Class I ANSI Class II
Traffic Safety Vests
Traffic Safety Vests
• Personal Protective Equipment– Use of helmets and turnouts prevented more
serious injuries at the Lionville incident.
• Design safety features into all new apparatus – Use of better reflective markings on rear of apparatus– Space for storage of traffic control equipment– Design lighting to protect the incident scene
Lessons to Reinforce
Plano, Texas Fire Department Apparatus Markings
Lessons to Reinforce• Safety Officer assigned for scene safety
– Scene hazards and traffic control
• Accountability System in Place on ALL Incidents– Ability to account for all personnel on scene– Could you identify if any of your crew were
under a vehicle that intruded on your scene ?
NIOSH Firefighter Fatality Investigations• NIOSH Report 99F-27 - August 5, 1999 Incident in
Oklahoma - 2 Career firefighters were struck on an interstate; one was killed, and one with serious injuries– On the internet: < http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/face9927.html >
• NIOSH Report 99F-38 - September 27, 1999 Incident in South Carolina - Volunteer dies after being struck by a tractor trailer truck. – On the internet : < http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/face9938.html >
NIOSH Firefighter Fatality Investigation Recommendations
• Establish, implement and enforce, standard operating procedures (SOP’s) regarding emergency operations for highway incidents.
• Position apparatus to take advantage of topography and weather conditions (uphill / upwind) & protect firefighters from traffic.
• First control oncoming vehicles before addressing the emergency event, in the event the police have not arrived.
• Ensure that personnel position themselves and victims in a secure area, when it’s not possible to protect the incident scene.
• (DOT) - Use of “variable message signs” to inform motorists of hazardous conditions or vehicular accidents.
• Ensure that personnel park or stage unneeded vehicles off the street / highway whenever possible.
• Ensure that personnel wear personal protective clothing that is suitable to that incident while operating at an emergency scene such as a highly reflectorized flagger vest ( strong yellow green and orange ).
• Ensure that personnel conducting traffic control measures use a highly visible stop / slow paddle.
• Establish pre-incident plans for areas that have a higher rate of automobile incidents.
NIOSH Firefighter Fatality Investigation Recommendations
Take Action !
Awareness
Training
Equipment(New & Existing)
Strategy &Tactics
SOP’s
Leadership
