SAFETY REGULATIONS AT AIRSIDE AND ENFORCEMENT

CONTENTS Introduction. Aircraft Rescue and Fire A pp a r at u s D r i v e r / Ope r a to r . Skill and Physical Abilities Needed By Driver/Operator. Selection of Driver/Operators. Driving Regulations. Rules and procedures governing vehicle driving on airside operational areas. LEARNING OUTCOME 3 Adhere to Safety Regulations at Airside and Enforcement ASSESSMENT CRITERIA: 3.1 3.2 3.3 Describe training and certification of airside drivers.

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Describe rules and procedures governing vehicle driving on airside operational areas. Describe enforcement of airside driving and safety regulations.

REFERENCES a. b. c. AIRCRAFT Rescue and Fire Fighting - Fourth Edition (IFSTA) Pumping Apparatus DRIVER/OPERATOR Handbook - Second Edition (IFSTA) BAT B 3017 - Airfield Driving Permit

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INTRODUCTION Personnel whose duties consist solely of the provision of rescue and fire fighting services for aircraft operations are infrequently called upon to face a serious situation involving life saying at a major aircraft fire. They will experience a few incidents and a larger number of standbys to cover movements of aircraft in circumstances where the possibility of an accident may reasonably be anticipated but will seldom be called upon to put their knowledge and experience to the supreme test. It follows, therefore, that only by means of a most carefully planned and rigorously followed programmer of training can there be any assurance that both personnel and equipment will be fit to deal with a major aircraft fire should be necessity arise. Training of rescue and fire fighting personnel falls into two broad categories: basic training in the use and maintenance of equipment, and operational tactics training which covers the deployment of personnel and equipment to accomplish control of a fire to permit rescue operations to proceed. AIRCRAFT RESCUE AND FIRE APPARATUS DRIVER/OPERATOR The fire apparatus driver/ operator are responsible for safely transporting firefighters, apparatus, and equipment to and from the scene of an emergency or other call for service. Once on the scene, the driver/operator must be capable of operating the apparatus properly, swiftly, and safely. The driver/ operator must also ensure that the apparatus and the equipment it carries are ready at all times. In general, driver/operators must be mature, responsible, safety-conscious adults. Because of their wide array of responsibilities, often under stressful emergency situations, driver/operators must be able to maintain a calm, "can-do" attitude under pressure. Psychological profiles, drug and sobriety testing, and background investigations maybe necessary to ensure that the driver/operator is ready to accept the high level of responsibility that comes with the job.

Figure 1 Driver/operators must know the operation of extinguishing system controls.

To perform their duties properly, all driver/operators must possess certain mental and physical skills. Not every firefighter is capable of becoming a driver/ operator. The required levels of these skills are usually determined by each jurisdiction. In addition, NFPA 1002 Standard for Fire Apparatus Driver/operators Professional Qualifications, sets minimum qualifications for ARFF vehicle driver/ operators. It requires any driver/operator who will be responsible for operating an ARFF vehicle to also meet the requirements of NFPA 1001, Standard for Fire Fighter Professional Qualifications, for Fire Fighter II. Fire apparatus must always be ready to respond. Regardless of whether the truck responds to an emergency call once an hour or once a month, it must be capable of performing in the manner for which it was designed at a AAF 1.3 2

moment's notice. In order to ensure this, certain preventive maintenance functions must be performed on a regular basis. Most apparatus or equipment failures can be prevented by performing routine maintenance checks on a regular basis, and most fire departments require driver/ operators to be able to perform routine maintenance checks and functions. SKILL AND PHYSICAL ABILITIES NEEDED BY DRIVER/OPERATOR Anyone seeking the responsibility for operating emergency vehicles must possess a certain minimum level cognitive and physical capabilities. Some of the more important skills are highlighted in following sections. a. Reading Skills. Driver/Operator must be able to read and understand sometimes complex written material. Obtaining and maintaining the necessary skills requires more-or-less constant study. Some examples of duties that call for good reading comprehension are as follows:

(1) (2) (3) (4) (5)

Reading maps. Reviewing manufacturers operating instructions. Studying pre-incident plans. Reviewing printed computer dispatch instructions. Reading and working on mobile data terminal (MDT).

b. Writing Skills. Driver/operator must also be able to convey information completely and accurately in writing. Some examples of job functions that require writing skills are completing maintenance reports, equipment repair request, and incident reports. Each driver/operator candidate should be evaluated for the ability to write clearly and concisely. c. Mathematical Skills. Basic mathematical skills are absolutely required of driver/operator. They use math daily in hydraulic calculations and numerous other situations. Driver/operator should be able to add, subtract, multiply, divide fractions and whole numbers, and extract square roots. They must also be able to solve simple equations such as those used in friction loss calculation. It is not the purpose of this note to review basic mathematical skills. If a prospective candidate is deficient in these skills, he or she must acquire them before being eligible for driver/operator training. Remedial programs are usually available at local public institutions. These programs can not only benefit to prospective driver/operator candidates but also current driver/operator who need to improve their math skills. d. Physical Fitness. Driver/operator often must perform rigorous physical activities while setting up the apparatus and operating equipment at an incident scene. These activities include task such as: Connecting to a hydrant with an intake hose. Stretching a supply line to a hydrant by hand. Deploying a portable water tank. Driver/operator must be prepared to perform the lifts, bends, and strenuous actions needed to complete these tasks quickly and safely. To ensure their ongoing fitness for assignment as driver/operators, they must pass a periodic medical evaluation. e. Vision Requirements. The safe operation of an apparatus depends greatly upon the driver/operators short- and long-range vision. NFPA 1582, Standard on Comprehensive Occupational Medical Program for Fire Departments, requires that AAF 1.3 3

(1) (2) (3)

the firefighters have a corrected far visual acuity of 20/40 with contact lenses or spectacles. The standard contains further information on uncorrected vision and diseases of the eye. Consult the standard for specific details. f. Hearing Requirements. Emergency vehicles en route to and on the emergency scene generate high levels of noise. Amid the noise of engines, sirens, air horns, and radio traffic, driver/operator must be able to recognize different sounds and their importance. For example, he must be able to distinguish between the siren on her vehicle and that on another emergency vehicle. Driver/operators must also be able to hear particular sounds, such as radio transmission. For example, failure to hear these transmissions may result in placing the apparatus in a less effective or even unsafe position. Among other things, NFPA 1582 recommends rejecting the firefighter candidate who has a hearing loss of 40 decibels or more at frequencies of 500-1000-2000 Hz in the unaided better ear. It also recommends rejecting a candidate who has loss greater than 40 decibels in any one of four frequencies (500-1000-2000-3000 Hz) in either ear. Consult NFPA 1582 for more specific details. g. Other skills. Several other skills, although not required, will help the driver/operator perform better. Mechanical ability aids in understanding the operation and maintenance of the apparatus. In some department the driver/operator is in command of the apparatus crew while the officer is absent; therefore basic supervisory skills will help in coordinating activities on the fireground.

SELECTION OF DRIVER/OPERATORS In career fire departments, driver/operators are usually promoted from the rank of firefighter. Promotion is frequently based upon a required minimum time of service with the department, written and performance tests, or a combination of service and tests. Whatever the method used, promotions should be based upon skill and ability rather than simply upon seniority or position. In some departments, the basic academy includes an apparatus operation component so that all firefighters are qualified driver/operators when they graduate. Volunteer fire departments may base the promotion of a firefighter to driver/operator on the same criteria as career departments. More commonly chief officers select members who they feel are ready for the responsibility of fire apparatus operation and train them toward that goal. Generally, the candidate will have to pass some form of examination before being approved as a driver/operator on emergency calls. Some volunteer fire departments may also allow lateral entry into a driver/operator position. This is common for members who have truck-driving experience. To meet the intent of NFPA 1002, these candidates will also have to attend and complete a RMAF Basic Aero Fireman and RMAF Class II Driver course. Any fire department, whether it is career, volunteer, or industrial, must have an established and thorough training program for prospective fire apparatus driver/operators. Simply letting a firefighter drive the apparatus around the block a few times and showing him or her how to engage the fire pump is not adequate. An effective training program consists of appropriate classroom (theoretical) instruction, practical training in the field (application), and testing to ensure that the person is ready for the responsibility in a real-world setting. For more direction on establishing a driver/operator training program, consult NFPA 1451, Standard for a Fire Service Vehicle Operations Training Program.

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DRIVING REGULATIONS Driver/operators of fire apparatus are regulated by state or provincial laws, city ordinances, and departmental standard operating procedures (SOPs). All driver/operators must be fully cognizant of all pertinent laws and SOPs. It is commonly known that ignorance of laws and ordinances is no defense if they are broken. More importantly, failure to know/follow department SOPs can have deadly consequences during emergency or even routine situations. In general, a fire apparatus driver/operator is subject to all statutes, laws, and ordinances that govern any vehicle operator. Most laws and statutes concerning motor vehicle operation are maintained at the state or provincial level. Individual states or provinces may define what constitutes an emergency vehicle and exempt them from certain laws or statutes such as following posted speed limits and parking requirements. Driver/operators must understand these exemptions and their parameters. For example, a particular state or province may allow emergency vehicles to exceed the posted speed limit. However, it may also specify that this can only be done when responding to an emergency, and when it is safe to do so. Driver/operators who fail to function within these limits may be subject to penalty and/or personal liability. Most driving regulations pertain to dry, clear roads. Driver/operators must adjust their speed to compensate for wet roads, darkness, fog, or any other condition that makes normal emergency vehicle operation more hazardous. Under all circumstances, the fire apparatus driver/operator must exercise care for the safety of others and must maintain complete control of the vehicle. Driver/operators must know and follow the applicable laws within their jurisdiction. In some jurisdictions, emergency vehicles are not exempt from laws that require vehicles to stop for school buses when their flashing red signal lights indicate that children are being loaded or unloaded. Driver/ operators must obey all traffic signals and rules of the road in nonemergency driving, including when returning to quarters from an alarm. Legal decisions have held that a driver/operator who does not obey state, local, or departmental driving regulations can be subject to criminal and civil prosecution if the apparatus is involved in a collision . If the driver/operator is negligent in the operation of an emergency vehicle and becomes involved in an accident, both the driver/operator and the fire department may be held responsible. RULES AND PROCEDURES GOVERNING VEHICLE DRIVING ON AIRSIDE OPERATIONAL AREAS (These statements according to BAT B 3017 - Airfield Driving Permit) 1. Kenderaan hendaklah memberi jalan kepada pesawat-pesawat terbang pada setiap masa. Berhenti di tempat permulaan kawasan lalu lintas pesawat-pesawat terbang dan tentukan tiada pesawat yang sedang menggunakan lalu lintas, sebelum melangsungkan perjalanan. Segala isyarat dan notis dari Pegawal Lalu Lintas Udara hendaklah diikuti dengan patuh. a. Isyarat warna merah - Berhenti/Tunggu.

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b. c. d.

Warna merah berkedip - Menghalang lalu lintas segera bergerak keluar dari kawasan. Isyarat warna hijau - Jalan. Warna putih berkelip - Balik ke kawasan pesawat terbang bertolak (dispersal).

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Tidak dibenarkan menotong kenderaan atau pesawat terbang. Tidak dibenarkan mengundur, melainkan berkaitan dengan kerja memperbaiki (servicing) pesawat-pesawat terbang dan hendaklah dengan arahan dari seorang pemberi isyarat. Tidak dibenarkan meletak kenderaan di kawasan atau dekat kawasan lalu lintas. Kenderaan hendaklah mengikut isyarat-isyarat lalu lintas jalan raya dan setniasa menggunakan sebelah kiri kawasan lalu lintas pesawat-pesawat terbang. Jika berlaku kerosakan, kenderaan tidak sekali-kali dibenarkan tinggal tanpa sesiapa menunggunya. Pemandu hendaklah mencuba untuk mendapat perhatian akan keadaanya dan memberi isyarat kepada pesawat-pesawat terbang (di waktu malam dengan menggunakan lampu isyarat merah) yang kenderaanya merupakan suatu halangan. Pemandu hendaklah fasih dengan keadaan kawasan landasan pesawat terbang dan alat-alat penyuluhnya. Landasan pesawat terbang ialah tempat larangan melainkan jika pemandu telah diberi kebenaran khas oleh Pegawai Pengawal Lalu Lintas Udara yang sedang bertugas. Had laju di kawasan lalu lintas pesawat ialah 20 B.S.J malam dan siang.

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CONCLUSION This training session is designed to educate Aero Fireman who are responsible for understanding the safety regulations at airside and enforcement. The information in this topic aids the RMAF Aero Fireman personnel in meeting the Perform functions as a Fire Tender Driver/Operator.

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