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Compliance Directive
Directive Number: 19-06
Effective Date: July 2006
Subject:
Emergency Scene Traffic Control
Definition: "Public Safety Traffic Flagger" means a municipal firefighter, a volunteer firefighter or a member of an emergency medical service licensed by the Department of Public Safety, Maine Emergency Medical Services who is trained in accordance with subsection 2 and authorized by the chief official of the fire department or emergency medical service to control vehicular traffic. (Police are exempt from this directive.)
Required Training: (Title 26, Ch.28, 2102 1 E): Initial training that is BLS approved is required for emergency scene personnel. Refresher training is only needed if personnel are observed not following these procedures.
Required Personal Protective Equipment:
- Clothing: The outer garment shall have retro-reflective material, which meets NFPA or ANSI standards. Example: Firefighter turnout gear or Class II vest shall be worn
- Head Protection: Firefighter helmet or hardhat with retro-reflective tape on front, sides, and rear of helmet or hardhat. Baseball cap with retro-reflective material is acceptable head protection, if no other hazard other than vehicular traffic exists.
Required Traffic Control Devices:
- Traffic Cones: 28 inch with retro-reflectorized white bands of 6 inches and 4 inches. Note: BLS will grandfather departments that have already purchased 24-inch cones, as long as they have the retro-reflectorized material. All new purchases must conform to the required 28-inch cone height. A minimum of ten cones is required (five downstream and five upstream of an emergency scene).
- Traffic Control Paddles: Stop/Slow paddles must be a minimum of 18 inches and shaped according to message. Example: Octagon for stop. Flashlights may be used in lieu of paddles at night.
Recommendations:
- Signs: Signs are not required, however, BLS recommends at least one “Emergency Scene Ahead” sign or a sign with similar type wording. Signs are usually retro-reflective and generally 36 inch by 36 inch.
These requirements should not preclude the responder from patient treatment. However, when sufficient personnel arrive, it shall be a priority to establish a compliant emergency scene zone.
