Field Operations Guide for Safety/Service Patrols – Checklists and Visor Cards
Checklists
Initial Action Items: Within 15 Minutes | |
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Estimate magnitude / expected duration of incident. |
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Estimate vehicle queue (backup) length. |
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Identify the need for and request secondary response agencies. |
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Make appropriate notifications. |
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Set-up appropriate TTC components based on estimates. Upgrade TTC every 15 minutes. |
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Set initial taper in direction of traffic travel. |
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Report to the incident Command / Unified Command Post. |
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Remove taper in opposite direction of traffic travel. |
Vehicle Positioning Checklist
Vehicle Positioning | |
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Limit number of responding vehicles. |
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Stage unnecessary vehicles off roadway. |
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Park all vehicles on same side of roadway. |
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Position apparatus to protect responders. |
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Minimize emergency lighting. |
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Set traffic cones for transition and activity area. |
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Set out cone taper in the direction of travel. |
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Create a large enough activity area to accommodate apparatus and responders SAFELY. |
Personnel Checklist
Personnel | |
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ALL responders identifiable and in appropriate High Visibility apparel. |
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Be alert. Minimize exposure. Face traffic. |
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Place Flagger at accident vehicles site. |
Considerations Checklist
Considerations | |
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Time of day and amount of traffic congestion. |
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Can vehicles be moved from roadway? Move It! |
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Can more lanes be opened? |
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Determine emergency vehicle access route(s). |
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Will closures create backups on other roadways? |
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How quickly can all lanes reopen? Minimize on-scene time. |
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Take steps to avoid secondary accidents. |
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Look for opportunities to make the scene SAFER. |
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Update dispatch periodically and as incident changes (escalation, termination, queue estimate, etc.). |
Haz-Mat Safety Checklist
Haz-Mat Safety Checklist | |
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Notify dispatch immediately upon detection of an unidentified or placarded cargo spill. |
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Approach incident cautiously, from upwind. |
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Stay clear of hazardous cargo and the spill as well as any vapors, fumes, or smoke. |
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Identify the cargo from placards from a safe distance and update dispatch with the information. |
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Check the driver’s condition but only approach and assist if it is safe. |
Non-Cargo Fluid Spill Quick Action Guide Checklist
Non-Cargo Fluid Spill Quick Action Guide | |
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Determine that spill is vehicle fluid, not cargo. |
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Stop leaking fluid at the source. |
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Contain and limit spill from spreading. |
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Apply available absorbents. |
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Sweep material off travel lanes. |
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Make second absorbent application if needed. |
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Gradually restore traffic flow. |
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Assure proper notifications are made. |
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Identify responsible party. |
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Mark location of material. |
Push Bumper Checklist
Push Bumper Checklist | |
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Check bumper alignment. |
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Look for any obstructions. |
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Communicate with motorist:
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Advise motorist of the following:
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Make gentle bumper contact. |
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Check traffic. |
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Get the motorist’s vehicle in motion and back off. |
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Communicate clearly to STOP |
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Set the parking brake on the motorist’s vehicle. |
Visor Cards
ETTC for Shoulder Assist Visor Card
ETTC for Lane Blocking Incident Visor Card
Traffic Cone Placement Visor Card
Traffic Cone Placement | |
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Start deploying cones at the rear of your vehicle and work your way upstream. |
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Always face traffic when placing or removing cones. |
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Space cones equally at least 20 feet apart. Use the striping marks as a distance reference to help with cone placement. The marks are on a 40 foot cycle. |
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Use 12 cones for the lane closure taper, which should be approximately 240 feet, and four cones along the activity area to quickly make the scene safer. |
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Place cones around response vehicles and place at least one cone downstream past the crash to allow a parking spot for the ambulance or EMS vehicle. |
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Increase the number of cones and the distance between cones as the speed of approaching traffic increases. |
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Borrow additional cones from other responding units or request some from another S/SP unit through dispatch if needed. |
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Improve traffic flow by moving the transition taper further upstream from the activity area as additional traffic controls are put in place. |
Incident Classification Visor Card
Major Incident
Incident Classification |
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MAJOR Incident = Expected Duration of More Than 2 Hours Examples: chain reaction or multiple commercial vehicle crashes; |
INTERMEDIATE Incident = Expected Duration of 30 minutes to 2 hours Examples: major roadway debris or cargo spills; overturned cars, RVs or small trailers; multi-vehicle crashes |
MINOR Incident = Expected Duration of Less Than 30 Minutes Examples: disabled vehicles in a travel lane or on the shoulder, minor crashes that can be moved or relocated to the shoulder, minor roadway debris. |
Minor Incident – Disabled Vehicle
Incident Priorities Visor Card
- Save lives:
- Make safety your first priority.
- Preserve the well being of responders, injured persons, and passing motorists.
- Stabilize the incident:
- Set up emergency temporary traffic controls.
- Prevent secondary crashes by warning approaching traffic.
- Practice safe, quick clearance; move crash vehicles as soon as permitted.
- Follow agency policy for scene preservation to protect evidence when necessary.
- Protect property and the environment:
- Contain spilled vehicle fluids to limit environmental damage.
- Upgrade traffic controls and advance warning.