[Rant Boss]

Article from the Rant's home page, written by Dave Denniston. Dave is the Client Education and Training Manager, Emergency Services Insurance Program

The Federal Highway Administration has established a new standard (23 CFR 634) that requires the use of high visibility safety apparel for all workers who are working within the rights-of-way of Federal-aid highways. Basically the new rule requires all firefighters, medical personnel, police officers, highway workers, tow truck drivers etc. to now wear reflective clothing that will make it easier for motorists to see and identify them better in a variety of conditions found on the roadways.

If your department is anything like mine, when word of new standards requiring the use of high visibility safety vest came down you can bet the troops got all worked up. After all, first there was OHSA and NFPA we had to be concerned with and now terms like ANSI, FHA and MUTCD are starting to affect us. One of our members said “what the heck is next, the m-o-u-s-e standard?” The next thing to hit our “in-boxes” were scores of emails on ideas of how to beat the requirements and ideas that maybe the new standards were not meant for us. After all, our state OSHA in New York had come out with a letter that they did not require the use of vests and turnout gear was sufficient. Next was an email from a gear manufacturer citing a study that suggested the vest provided no more visibility then standard turn out gear. Questions also were asked on if we even protected any “federal highways” and what happened when fighting a car fire with a “flammable” vest. Then there was the whole “break away” vs “non- break away” vests and the new NFPA 1901 requiring a vest for each seat of a truck so do we buy vests and put on the truck or buy them and issue them to our members?

I set out at the Fire and EMS Expo in Baltimore to get some answers. What I found was a huge selection of vests available that appear to meet the standard that ranged in price from $14 to $85 a piece. There are vests with zippers, vests with velcro and vests with snaps. I found vests with lights, vests with radio pockets, vests with cell phone pockets and vests with whistles. I also found vests that were fire resistant and fire proof. And many of the vendors were more than glad to customize them for you. After all I don’t own a t-shirt without a department name on it so why would I want my vest that way? I learned a lot about vests and have a whole new respect for them.

I remember driving upon an accident scene lately and realizing that I could not see the emergency people doing their job. I then thought of all the times I was on the scene of one of those calls and was probably not seen by motorists either. What could we possibly be thinking trying to find ways to beat, fight, or ignore the new standard? The only person it is meant to protect is us.

I had planned on leaving Baltimore with a new vest to meet the 23 CFR 634 that goes into effect 11/24/2008. Instead I left with four! The t-shirts will have to wait another year. Please research, plan and buy vests for your department. I don’t like being told what to do anymore than anyone else does. But after researching this topic, I have to agree it is in our best interests. Also remember that the vest is just one small component of a complete highway safety program.

[Navy076996]

We cover a good section of the PA turnpike and we use vests. I believe they're Class 3 type vests. They are multi-section rip-away vests that velcro to the turnout coat to stay in place when you're putting your coat on or taking it off. They are to be worn at ALL times, except for structure calls, or when operating on the nozzle of a handline because they are not fire proof---they'll light up.

At first I thought they were really lame looking, but they are really very visible. They're really nice to have when you have cars zipping by you at 80mph.

[The Squirrel]

A great site I stumbled upon a few days ago:

ResponderSafety.com

[Slim]

I wish that something could be mandated already in NY. We have been trying and getting voted down to buy ems vests for our members for months now!! I am almost at the point of buying my own but I never have extra money lying around. I have told my wife (jokingly) that if I get run over at an ambulance call that she should sue the department and told her what meetings minutes she should have the lawyer get. I just don't understand why some members don't want to spend the money on the vests then I realize almost to a man they are the guys not on the bus.


Slim

[xpdfd]

Originally Posted by Slim

I wish that something could be mandated already in NY. We have been trying and getting voted down to buy ems vests for our members for months now!! I am almost at the point of buying my own but I never have extra money lying around. I have told my wife (jokingly) that if I get run over at an ambulance call that she should sue the department and told her what meetings minutes she should have the lawyer get. I just don't understand why some members don't want to spend the money on the vests then I realize almost to a man they are the guys not on the bus.


Slim

Just for everybody's information the new law for traffic safety on the highways for police, fire, ems the ANSI Standards high visibility vests or garments. Fire Dex in Cooperation with Steadfast has designed EMS gear to meet the new standards for high visibility. Now you can buy Ems gear with the high visibility built in. No more wearing vests and Ems Gear just wear the gear, one less thing to put on. If anyone would like more information you can PM me.

[MFD594]

Wonder how the PD's are gonna handle this one- I have never seen a NYSP Trooper on the SSP with a safety vest, and with their darker color uniforms, they are sometimes hard to spot at night.

[underthedome]

look for the hats.

[ESU2422]

Originally Posted by MFD594

Wonder how the PD's are gonna handle this one- I have never seen a NYSP Trooper on the SSP with a safety vest, and with their darker color uniforms, they are sometimes hard to spot at night.

I believe the County will be issuing vests to all PO's in the near future.

[dawreckingstick]

Maybe it’s just me, but it seems in today’s Fire Service more and more we rely on the addition of some new piece of gear, equipment or gadgets as magic solutions to our issues as opposed to solid training, tactics and policy. Yes, sometimes both working hand and hand are the way to go and enable us to take great strides forward when it comes to safety and overall operational effectiveness. However, in this case I don’t think so. It appears that the firemen have lost control of our craft and it has now been taken over by administrators (suits) and equipment mfg’s.

We’ve added chevrons to the rear of rigs, am I just being ignorant but if they didn’t notice the numerous flashing lights & BRT will the addition of angled chevrons sober up the drunk or suddenly cause the distracted driver to pay attention.

Same goes for the Vests, will the distracted drivers with heads turned to get a peek at the gruesome scene suddenly loose interest because someone is wearing a vest. Will the brightly colored safety vest sober up the drunk or enhance his aim?

IMOP -- we already have the answer and as close to a foolproof solution as we’ll ever find when addressing the issue of roadway scene safety ---- Proper Training & Procedures. Close down lanes as necessary or the entire roadway when required with properly positioned apparatus. Cocoon the scene with vehicles and ensure we all operate within that cocoon so if an intoxicated or distracted driver fails to yield they hit the apparatus and not us. Never turn your back on traffic and one person should be designated as a spotter until the scene is properly contained by apparatus.

PD traffic stops, when made on heavily traveled roadways a second RMP should be dispatched to assist and positioned --- sufficiently spaced --- to protect the Officers and Civilians. That’s if those in power are truly concerned about Officer safety as opposed to just giving lip service. Do conditions permit the PO to move the stop to a side street?

If we take a close look at the recent incidents involving us I believe Safety Vests would have had 0 impact on the very tragic outcomes.

Ok, wear the vest of armor but more importantly remember this ---- NEVER TURN YOUR BACK ON ONCOMING TRAFFIC and COCOON THE SCENE.

Please Stay Safe.

[Chazman1117]

Ok...People bust my shoes for it, but my Dept got me one for when I am operating as my Departments Photographer. I really felt the need as sometimes its difficult to keep the entire scene in perspective when you are looking thru a camera lens. Having that vest on makes me more visible to those on the scene, and allows for me to make myself standout while operating.

I got a A.N.S.I./I.S.E.A. Class II high-visibility vest is sized to fit over outerwear. It rolls up into its own pocket and can be stored in almost any pocket.

Call me a buff.....

[FLASHOVER]

dawreckingstick hit the nail on the head with scene safety. Close lanes, the entire roadway if needed, have spotters and also remember sometimes to many lights are a distraction to motorist who can not see us because of the amount and intensity of the warning lights on the rigs and chiefs vehicles. There great responding to alarms but at times can be toned down at scenes. Training is key but having proper safety gear is a must. Stay safe all and ALWAYS watch your back.

[BARNEY R]

If you ever noticed all workers on the RR tracks are required to wear vests and if you dont and get caught you can be fined by the FRA (Federal Railway admin.) I think it is at $1500 now. I will look it up when I have time. Stay safe.

[BoxE11]

On a daily basis I respond onto one of the busiest and deadliest highway system in the US. The vest integrated with a barrier protection plan is a blessing. If caught not wearing your vest or turnout coat, I believe will lose your company state funding.

No matter all the flourecent yellow vests you have, or wagons blocking traffic. Be alert, act as if every motorist is out to kill you.

[BoxE11]

Operating on the beltway last night, we were providing barrier protection with our wagon for the crew operating at a reported car fire. The crew was either wearing their running coat or their reflective vest. As the crew was operating, a 2 car collision occurred behind the fire engine. This caused the 2 vehicles to slide, stopping inches from the wagon.

Another reason to be highly visible, yourself and the apparatus.

[Navy076996]

It's easy to say "close the road down!" when you're operating on backwoods Long Island roads, or even on Hempstead Turnpike. Some of us operate on roads where closing the entire road just isn't feasible or rational. You've got a minor MVA in the right lane---you can't just go ahead and shut down the entire PA turnpike. Not going to happen. PSP won't allow it.

We once had a fatal accident covering multiple lanes and had to shut it down for many many hours. Traffic backed up all the way to the NEW JERSEY TURNPIKE---over 40 miles! Could you imagine if we did that with every run of the mill MVA or car fire? Not only that, but we have units responding in from both directions (east and west) to a highway job. That sometimes means that crews are working from both sides of the concrete barrier. The MVA side might be shut down, but the other side sure ain't---you've got cars and trucks flying by the rig.

I'll admit it, the vest are annoying and they look lame---but they really do work. Sometimes as you're driving by a scene it's easy to lose a FF's turnout coat striping in all of the glare and strobes/LEDs all over the rigs. Those vests? No way. They're obnoxiously visible.

For us, we have to keep them on our gear unless we're called to a structure. That SOP is in place only because we do more highway work than structure work. Most of the departments on LI could get away with leaving them on their racks, and having the FF's grab them when toned out for a highway/road job.

I think that 90% of the people who complain about them aren't complaining about the extra 5 seconds it takes to throw one on, they're really whining about how they no longer look the part of the salty old firefighter (although they won't admit it). I was the same way when I saw the vests for the first time. I hated on them until my first pin job and saw how effective they were. Sometimes safety isn't cool, sometimes it trumps tradition. Get over it.

[ESU2422]

They have been working on a safety vest large enough for Tellm

This is the prototype.