LAS VEGAS FIRE & RESCUE
STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURES
STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURE / OPERATION OF FIRE DEPARTMENT VEHICLESReviewed Date:
Effective Date: / 07/26/10
Supersedes: / 08/01/01 / SOP / 408.01 / Page 1 of 10
I. INTRODUCTION
A. Purpose: To establish guidelines and provide an approved safe driving/operating procedure for all Las Vegas Fire & Rescue personnel while operating in City vehicles.
B. Scope: All Las Vegas Fire & Rescue personnel who drive/operate Fire Department vehicles are responsible for the safe operation of vehicles and for the safety of any passengers.
C. Author: The Fire Chief through the Safety Officer and the SOP Coordinator shall be responsible for content, revision, and annual review of this instruction.
II. RESPONSIBILITY
A. All Personnel: It is the responsibility of all personnel who drive and/or operates Fire Department vehicles to follow and be familiar with the information contained in this document as well as State of Nevada Department of Motor vehicles traffic laws and regulations.
B. Driver: The driver is responsible for passenger safety, cargo and equipment loading and tie down, and the attachment of towed equipment. Personnel being trained in the operation of an apparatus must have an instruction permit for the class of apparatus they are to drive and a qualified trainer with them at all times. The driver is responsible for checking the safety and general condition of the vehicle, including Daily/Weekly sheets. Any damage to the vehicle or missing equipment must be reported to the supervisor immediately and proper action taken.
C. Engineers/Acting Engineers: In addition to the above paragraph, it is the responsibility of Fire Engineers and Driver Operators to be familiar with the following:
1. NFPA 1001, NFPA 1002, NFPA 1500, NFPA 1901, and NFPA 1902.
2. Pumping Apparatus Driver/Operator Handbook, First Edition, IFSTA.
3. Aerial Apparatus Driver/Operator Handbook, First Edition, IFSTA.
4. Principles of Foam Fire Fighting, First Edition, IFSTA.
III. POLICY
Las Vegas Fire and Rescue to requires and supports the safe and legal operation of all fire department vehicles at all times.
A. It is the policy of Las Vegas Fire & Rescue that all Drivers/operators must carry with them at all times while operating Fire Department vehicles, an appropriate and current driver’s license valid in the State of Nevada.
B. All Las Vegas Fire & Rescue personnel who drive department vehicles must obtain the required appropriate Nevada driver’s license and must comply with State of Nevada Department of Motor Vehicles traffic laws and regulations. Personnel that required a non-commercial Class B license classification must comply with the State of Nevada Department of Motor Vehicles requirements to obtain the proper license.
C. Personnel who drive an apparatus must posses a non-commercial Class B driver’s license with an F endorsement or higher prior to operating fire apparatus. Personnel who operate Fire apparatus in a non-emergency mode must posses a non-commercial Class B driver’s license with an F endorsement permit prior to operating Fire apparatus.
D. The Training Division must maintain a system that insures personnel operating vehicle have the proper class of license required and will check license for current statue twice a year.
E. Personnel must adhere to State of Nevada traffic laws and regulation when operating Fire Department vehicles. Personnel shall at all times operate a fire department vehicle in such a manner as to avoid bodily harm to persons or damage to property.
F. The Las Vegas Fire & Rescue in conjunction with City of Las Vegas Risk Management shall review the driving record of each employee Bi-annually. An invalid license or a poor driving record may result in disqualification for the position. Driving with a suspended license may result in disciplinary action, demotion, or termination.
G. Personnel shall not permit unauthorized personnel to use or ride in a Fire Department vehicle, except when such persons are required to be conveyed in the performance of duty, or are authorized by the Fire Chief or designee.
H. Fire Department vehicles are to be used for fire department business only. Persons found using department vehicles for their personal use or lunchtime transportation without authorization may be subject to disciplinary action.
I. Eating, drinking, smoking, and chewing tobacco is not permitted in fire department vehicles, either by the driver or the passenger(s).
J. Personal property not directly related to employee’s job duties may not be used, stored, or transported in a City vehicle. Personal property may not be attached to or installed in a fire department vehicle. The Mechanical Service Division may remove any non-fire department furnished or installed equipment of any items found in any fire department vehicle.
K. No personnel shall use a vehicle or equipment for any purpose for which it was not designed, operate it beyond its designed limits, operate it in areas or locations for which it was not designed, or cause damage through neglect, misuse, improper driving technique, or improper handling.
L. Travel of Fire Department vehicles on unimproved surface i.e., dirt roads, gravel roads, or sand is prohibited except in extreme cases, which would result in loss of life or property. Streets that are in the process of paving or future paving (construction sites with hydrants and occupancy) are exceptions. In the event, that travel on the above mentioned surfaces is required, every effort to limit possible damage to fire department vehicles should be taken i.e., use of spotters and backers to confirm clearances.
M. Vehicle-mounted hearing protection devices (i.e. David Clark headsets) must be worn in any Fire Department vehicle while driving Code 3. This includes engine companies, truck companies, rescue units, CBRNE unit, heavy rescue, air resource unit, and chief officer vehicles. It is recommended that the same hearing protection devices be used in those same vehicles during non-Code 3 driving, as well.
IV. PROCEDURE
A. Driving Code 3
1. When responding to emergency calls under Code 3 conditions, Fire Department vehicles may exceed the posted speed limit, but shall be regulated AT ALL TIMES by existing road and traffic conditions. At no time will any Fire Department vehicle exceed 10 mph above the posted speed limit or 65 mph under any conditions.
2. Under hazardous weather or road conditions, Fire Department vehicles should react pessimistically to the conditions encountered, and in no case exceed the posted speed limit.
3. Unless all lanes can be accounted for by the driver during an emergency response, Fire Department vehicles shall come to a complete stop at all red light intersections and intersections with stop or yield signs. Rule of Thumb: “If you can’t see, STOP”. At traffic signals with a green light, Fire Department vehicles shall slow to a speed that will allow for safe clearing of the intersection. At no time shall department vehicles exceed the posted speed limit through a traffic signal with a green light.
4. During an emergency response, fire vehicles should avoid passing other emergency fire vehicles. If unavoidable, the passing arrangement should be conducted through radio communications.
B. Emergency Scene Operations
1. The unique hazard of driving on or adjacent to the fire ground require the driver to use extreme caution and alertness, and also requires that he/she utilize a prudent speed for the conditions encountered, in order that he/she may react to the unexpected.
2. Driver must resist the tendency to drive hastily or imprudently when driving apparatus on the fire ground,. This tendency is mostly due to the urgent nature of fire ground operations.
3. Driver must consider the dangers their moving vehicle poses to fire ground personnel and spectators who may be pre-occupied with the emergency, and inadvertently step in front of or behind a moving vehicle.
4. Driver must also be aware of the potential that exists for vehicle accident on or near the fire ground due to the distractions cause by the emergency.
5. Driver should use caution in maintaining adequate distance from known or possible hazards. Some examples are:
a) Radiant heat from fire exposure.
b) Overhead electrical wires that may receive heat damage and fall.
c) Do not drive through or park over hazardous or flammable materials leaks or spills.
d) Point of departure from rear wheels and tailboard on ramps or dips.
e) Park out of traffic lanes and egress route of rescue and other units.
C. Backing
1. Drivers will not park vehicles so as to require backing unless necessary.
2. When backing is necessary, Drivers shall use backing guides.
3. Drivers will not proceed to back up unless they have audio and visual contact with guides.
4. Depending on the number of backers being used, the procedures will be implemented.
a) Method 1 (Two guides) - Two (2) each guides positioned to the side and approximately 10 feet behind apparatus, one on each side visually positioned in driver’s mirrors. The guide on the left (driver) side is responsible for the left side and rear obstacle identification and controls the horn (buzzer) signal. On apparatus equipped with horn signals on extendible cords, if not equipped, use appropriate hand signals.
The guide on the Captain’s side is responsible for right side and vertical obstacles identification and communicates to the left side for relay to the operator.
Back up guides are involved with the identification of overlooked obstacles. It remains the operators (drivers) responsibility to select an obstacle free path of operation and respond to the direction of guides.
Horn/buzzer signals to be used are as follows:
One Signal = Stop
Two Signals = Forward
Three Signals = Reverse
Once guides are positioned, movement will only commence at the guides’ direction. Guides are to use horn signals when apparatus are equipped with buzzer controls on extension type cords. When apparatus are used without extendible controls, guides are to be positioned accordingly using appropriate hand signals.
NOTE: Guides should always be prepared to use hand signals in case of electrical malfunction of buzzer controls.
b) Method 2 (One guide) - One guide to rear of apparatus, approximately 10 feet, and immediately aside apparatus:
Prior to backing, one Backing Guide positions him/herself in full mirror view of the operator approximately 10 feet behind and immediately aside apparatus.
The guide provides direction of apparatus movement through hand signals familiar to both operator and guide.
When one guide is used, apparatus is to be operated very slowly as that guide has many concerns, i.e.: Left/Right side clearance, vertical clearance of vehicle, and the making of his/her own safe pathway behind and ahead of the backing vehicle. Once a guide is in position, movement will commence only at that guides direction. Visual contact between operator and guide must be maintained while vehicle is in motion.
The Rear Guide is involved with the identification of overlooked obstacles. It remains the operators' responsibility to select an obstacle free path of operation and respond to the direction of guides.
5. During back up procedures, riding on tailboards will no longer be a practice used due to safety of personnel. The only exception is during hose loading, in such case, there shall be a firefighter, other than those firefighters loading hose, assigned as a safety observer. The safety observer shall have an unobstructed view of hose loading operation and be in visual contact with the apparatus operator.
6. Other Fire Department vehicles will take steps as necessary to ensure a safe backing route. The operator is responsible to ensure that the path is clear. In cases in which the entire path is not visible from the driver’s position, the driver will perform a walk around inspection of the route prior to backing operations.
D. Parking
1. Fire Department vehicles are not to park in fire lanes, handicap entrance/exits, handicap spaces, or any other restricted parking areas, except during an emergency.
2. All department vehicles, which are left in areas where theft could occur, shall be locked or a minimum of one employee shall be left with the vehicle. Emergency scenes are an exception.
3. When the driver leaves the driver’s compartment, the vehicle shall be secured in two of the following ways:
a) Place transmission in Park.
b) Apply emergency brake fully.
c) Apply wheel chocks (chock a wheel on one side of apparatus; chocks must be in front and back of a wheel).
4. All vehicles equipped with a “Park” setting should be placed in that position, and set the emergency brake.
5. Apparatus without a “Park” setting will REQUIRE the setting of wheel chocks as well as the parking brake.
6. When selecting a parking space, avoid congested areas, parking next to vehicles that severely obstruct your vision
7. When leaving the parking space, always walk around your vehicle to observe the area for hazards.
E. Fire Department Vehicle Accidents
These procedures shall be followed for any incident involving fire department equipment that results in property damage, injury, or death.
1. Do not move the vehicle or leave the scene without being told to do so by a Police Officer or Supervisor.
2. Notify the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department if the accident occurs on a public street, causes damage to property not owned by the City of Las Vegas, or causes injury to a third party.
a) Report the severity of the incident to the Fire Alarm Office
b) Request that the City Insurance Adjuster be notified.
Note: If the accident is on City property and involves damage to City property only, Metro does not need to be notified.
3. Do not admit fault or voice any judgments regarding liability. Do not make any statements to the public or media regarding the accident.
4. Notify your supervisor.
5. Upon notification, the supervisor of the individual involved in the accident shall:
a) Notify his/her Department or Division head. If the accident results in injury or property damage to third parties, the Division Chief should immediately contact the Risk Manager.
b) Go to the scene and identify himself/herself to the Insurance Adjuster, and offer to assist as needed.
c) In the case of an accident involving the general public, assist the employee as necessary. Advise all City personnel not directly involve in the accident as either a participant or witness, to leave the scene.