Safety on the Side for Emergency Responders

Roadside Hazards
Lights are flashing, traffic slows to a snail's pace and you can see the stretcher being loaded into the ambulance. Police stand on the side of the road directing traffic around the accident and the firefighters load their equipment back onto the truck. This is a scene many of us have witnessed on our streets, roads and highways. What we don't see are the injuries and deaths that result from emergency responders being struck by passing vehicles.
SAFE Work Manitoba has issued a bulletin to raise awareness of the hazard faced by emergency workers - police, fire and paramedic services - providing emergency roadside assistance, who are at risk of being struck by vehicles traveling in nearby traffic lanes.
Safe work procedures
To minimize the risk associated with working near moving traffic, employers must establish and implement safe work procedures. The procedures must provide effective means of traffic control for emergency responders who are providing roadside assistance. Safe work procedures must be appropriate to the task, for example, rescuing a trapped individual from their car, stabilizing a victim before they are transported by ambulance, responding to an emergency call and parking on the side of the road, and other unusual circumstances. Emergency response workers must be trained to follow these procedures and be provided with tools and resources needed for protection.
Worker protection
In addition to implementing safe work procedures, there are other precautionary measures that can be taken to protect workers providing emergency roadside assistance:
Devices to warn approaching drivers
warning signs, flares or traffic cones
barriers
lane control devices
flashing lights
automatic or remote controlled traffic control systems
flag person(s)
Emergency roadside (assistance) equipment
Roadside assistance vehicles can provide protection for workers as they set up visual markers (flares or traffic cones) at the scene of assistance. Care should be taken to avoid working between vehicles.
Personal protective equipment
Emergency workers providing roadside assistance must wear high visibility safety apparel at all times, that meets workplace health and safety regulatory requirements. In some circumstances, the high visibility apparel will be part of the worker's uniform or turnout gear. If not, the worker must wear a high visibility vest.
Emergency clothing, safety footwear and safety headwear appropriate for the conditions must be worn.
Communication equipment
Communication equipment such as a mobile radio or phone must be kept in good working condition and be available to workers providing emergency roadside assistance.
Additional precautionary measures
Consult with local law enforcement to assist with traffic control.
For emergency response workers who are actively engaged in firefighting or vehicle extrication on a roadway, turnout gear may be substituted for high visibility safety apparel, provided that traffic control measures have been established. Personnel designated to control traffic must wear high visibility apparel.
Learn about CAN/CSA Standard Z96