STANDARD DEPARTMENT PROCEDURE
SECTION 114XXX
SAFETY PROCEDU
RESSafety Apparel While Working
In or Near Moving Traffic
PROCEDURE114.16XXX.XX
INCIDENT CONTROL AREAS
Approved:
PURPOSE
The purpose of this Procedure Policy is to detail describe the proper required personal protective apparel to be worn by McKinney Fire Department members when working at an incident that places the employee in or near moving traffic. procedures for the use of Yellow and Red Line Tape and the expected operation guidelines for access into these designated areas for the fire department. Incidents such as vehicle collisions/injury crashes, extrications, fluid spills, dangerous conditions, and vehicle fires are typical situations where this policy is applicable.
PROCEDUREBACKGROUND
For incidents where exposure to the hazards of moving traffic are present for personnel working on foot, the department policy can be summarized in the statement. “If your feet are on the street, your vest is on your chest.” This places the member in compliance with Federal law 23 CFR Part 634 and applicable provisions of the Federal Highway Administration and State of Texas Manual of Uniform Traffic Devices (MUTCD).
PROCEDURE
Specifically, when the nature of the incident requires the member to work in or near moving traffic, the following personal protective apparel shall be worn;
- Structural Fire Helmet with chin strap properly donned
- ANSI 107-compliant Highway Safety Vest
- Protective Footwear
If a member prefers to wear a structural turnout coat due to inclement weather; i.e. rain, cold temperatures, etc, the ANSI highway safety vest must be donned over the turnout coat. Our structural turnout coats do not meet the minimum criteria to serve alone as mandatory high-visibility safety apparel.
Structural bunker pants and boots may be worn in lieu of standard protective footwear.
NON-VEST INCIDENTS
Several unique incident types may be encountered where the donning of a highway safety vest may actually increase risk of injury for the fire department member or where wearing of a vest may in fact be otherwise impractical. Under these limited situations, the requirement for donning ANSI 107 vests by members directly involved in hazard area “Hot Zone” activities is modified.
The exemptions for wearing a highway safety vest applies only to members directly involved in activities within an established “Hot Zone” and only when the “Hot Zone” is protected from the hazards of moving traffic by apparatus blocking, lane closures, etc.
The required ANSI 107 Highway Safety vest need not be worn when a member is required to;
1)Don structural PPE and SCBA to work in close proximity to a source of heat such as during suppression of a vehicle fire,
2)Don hazardous material personal protective equipment to avoid potential exposure to chemicals or other contaminants, or
3)Don technical rescue PPE and/or equipment for a technical rescue incident such as extrication, high or low-angle rescue, water rescue, etc.
All members in support roles at these specific types of incidents are required to don ANSI 107 vests.
Members who complete activities within the designated Hot Zone are required to don ANSI vests once their activities within the Hot Zone are completed.
Yellow Fire Line Tape - Yellow fire line tape is used to limit access to the specific area identified. All non-emergency service personnel and vehicular traffic should be maintained outside of this area. FD personnel operating within this perimeter are expected to operate with a normal approach to safety, and shall use PPE appropriate for any hazards that may be present. Access into this taped area is generally controlled by the PD.
Red Fire Line Tape – Red fire line tape labeled with the words “DANGER HAZARD AREA DO NOT ENTER” shall be carried on all fire apparatus, the Battalion Chief’s vehicle and the Safety Officer’s vehicle. This tape shall be used to identify an area at an incident scene known as the “Red Zone”; an area that presents hazards deemed immediately dangerous to life and health.
Red fire line tape shall limit ALL access to this area; a “No Enter Zone” for ALL personnel including FD and PD. Designation of an area with red fire line tape is due to a known or potential life safety hazard or condition (such as leaning chimney or wall, weakened floor or roof area, power lines down, unstable structure, etc).
Authorization from the Incident Commander and the Incident Safety Officer is required to enter this Red Zone. Personnel may be granted permission to enter the Red Zone under the following conditions:
Having a specific assignment or function to perform
Wearing full PPE
Have their SCBA
Are functioning with their assigned company or crew
Escorting an authorized person such as gas and electric company employees who is performing a necessary function such as securing utilities
“ALL OTHERS STAY OUTSIDE”
The assigned Incident Safety Officer will monitor this area any time authorized personnel are granted permission to enter. Time in the Red Zone must be minimized.
Double Yellow Fire Line Tape – If a situation is ever encountered where red fire line tape is not available to identify an area that presents hazards deemed immediately dangerous to life and health, an alternative shall be used. In lieu of red tape, two lines of standard yellow fire line tape run parallel and approximately 12 to 18 inches apart from each other shall have the same meaning and present the same restrictions as the red fire line tape.
The danger area designated by double yellow fire line tape shall mean limited access for ALL personnel including FD and PD.
Hazard PAR –
Command must conduct a “Hazard PAR” upon any deployment of Red Hazard tape or Double Yellow Fire Line Tape. All companies, staff personnel, and command officers must acknowledge the establishment of the hazard zone and its location.
SDP 114.16XXX.XX, revisedNew 1206/019/086new 9/11/03 Page 1 of 3Yellow