California Department of California Department of Forestry Forestry

and Fire Protection and Fire Protection

Safety Vest Policy

Hi-Visibility Traffic ApparelHi-Visibility Traffic Apparel

CHP Officer Killed While Directing CHP Officer Killed While Directing Cars On Hwy 60 Freeway AccidentCars On Hwy 60 Freeway Accident

HACIENDA HEIGHTS HACIENDA HEIGHTS 12-15-200812-15-2008

A California Highway Patrol officer A California Highway Patrol officer was fatally struck by a vehicle as he was fatally struck by a vehicle as he directed traffic at the scene of a directed traffic at the scene of a previous accident on the rain-slick previous accident on the rain-slick Pomona (60) Freeway in Hacienda Pomona (60) Freeway in Hacienda Heights early Monday, authorities Heights early Monday, authorities said. said.

The fatal crash, reported at 4:20 The fatal crash, reported at 4:20 a.m., happened west of Azusa a.m., happened west of Azusa Avenue, Avenue,

Two vehicles collided Two vehicles collided and one of them then and one of them then hit the officer, who was hit the officer, who was airlifted to a hospital airlifted to a hospital where he was where he was pronounced dead. pronounced dead.

The officer was The officer was identified as Joseph identified as Joseph Sanders, 29, who had Sanders, 29, who had been with the CHP for been with the CHP for 14 months. He left 14 months. He left behind a wife and behind a wife and children. children.

Home Town Hero Killed at Traffic Accident

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Personnel VisibilityPersonnel Visibility

National Unified Goal…

’Responder Safety’

One of the three objectives ofthe National Unified Goal (NUG) for Traffic Incident Managementis “Responder Safety”.

One of the three objectives ofthe National Unified Goal (NUG) for Traffic Incident Managementis “Responder Safety”.

US Department of Transportation US Department of Transportation (DOT) Federal Highway Administration (DOT) Federal Highway Administration

(FHWA) (FHWA) 23 CFR (Code of Regulation) Part 63423 CFR (Code of Regulation) Part 634

All workers within the right-of-way of All workers within the right-of-way of a Federal-aid highway who are a Federal-aid highway who are exposed either to traffic (vehicles exposed either to traffic (vehicles using the highway for purposes of using the highway for purposes of travel) or to construction equipment travel) or to construction equipment within the work area shall wear high-within the work area shall wear high-visibility safety apparel. visibility safety apparel.

23 CFR Part 634.323 CFR Part 634.3

FHWA 23 CFR Part 634 (Nov 2008)

As of November, 2008, anew Federal law known as23 CFR Part 634 requires use of high-visibility apparel

As of November, 2008, anew Federal law known as23 CFR Part 634 requires use of high-visibility apparel

Worker means people on foot whose duties place them within the right-of way of any Federal-funded highway, including; highway construction and maintenance forces survey crews & utility crews; responders to incidents within the highway

right-of-way; firefighters and other emergency responders

when they are not directly exposed to flame, fire, heat, and/or hazardous materials; and

law enforcement personnel when directing traffic, investigating crashes, and handling lane closures, obstructed roadways, and disasters within the right-of-way of a Federal-aid highway. 23 CFR Part 634.2 23 CFR Part 634.2

Firefighters or other emergency responders working within the right-of-way of a Federal-aid highway and engaged in any other types of operations shall wear high-visibility safety apparel.

The Incident Commander is ultimately responsible for ensuring that firefighters and other emergency responders are wearing high-visibility safety apparel when appropriate.

CAL FIRE POLICYCAL FIRE POLICY 1728.6 1728.6High Visibility Safety Apparel (Vests)High Visibility Safety Apparel (Vests)

As required by federal regulation 23 CFR Part 634, As required by federal regulation 23 CFR Part 634, personnel engaged in operations on or within the personnel engaged in operations on or within the right-of-way of any Federal-aid highway must don right-of-way of any Federal-aid highway must don ANSI/ISEA 107, 2004 Class 2 or 3 compliant high ANSI/ISEA 107, 2004 Class 2 or 3 compliant high visibility garments (vests). In addition to Federal-aid visibility garments (vests). In addition to Federal-aid highways, personnel engaged in operations on or highways, personnel engaged in operations on or within the right-of-way of any roadway or highway within the right-of-way of any roadway or highway open to public travel will don high visibility garments open to public travel will don high visibility garments (vests). Any current ANSI/ISEA compliant garment (vests). Any current ANSI/ISEA compliant garment which meets or exceeds the 107, 2004 standards will which meets or exceeds the 107, 2004 standards will be an acceptable substitute. Personnel donning ANSI be an acceptable substitute. Personnel donning ANSI compliant high visibility garments (vests) must do so compliant high visibility garments (vests) must do so according to the apparel manufacturer’s according to the apparel manufacturer’s recommendation and must be aware of any and all recommendation and must be aware of any and all limitations in the application and use of such limitations in the application and use of such garments. garments.

CONT…CONT…

Personnel are exempt from donning the high visibility Personnel are exempt from donning the high visibility garments (vests) when exposed to flame, fire, heat garments (vests) when exposed to flame, fire, heat source, hazardous materials and/or when they are source, hazardous materials and/or when they are exposed to hazardous conditions where the use of such exposed to hazardous conditions where the use of such garments may increase the risk of injury to such garments may increase the risk of injury to such personnel. Examples of such hazardous conditions may personnel. Examples of such hazardous conditions may include, but not be limited to: fire suppression activities, include, but not be limited to: fire suppression activities, hazardous materials investigation/mitigation, vehicle hazardous materials investigation/mitigation, vehicle extrication, and technical rescue such as swift water, extrication, and technical rescue such as swift water, over-the-side, and confined space. As soon as the over-the-side, and confined space. As soon as the hazardous condition is mitigated, personnel must don hazardous condition is mitigated, personnel must don the high visibility garment (vest) for the remaining the high visibility garment (vest) for the remaining duration of the incident.duration of the incident.

CONT…CONT…

Examples of operations requiring the donning of Examples of operations requiring the donning of high visibility garments (vests) may include, but high visibility garments (vests) may include, but not be limited to: roadside medical aids, public not be limited to: roadside medical aids, public service assists, traffic control, and work projects. service assists, traffic control, and work projects. Additionally, a designated and dedicated Lookout, Additionally, a designated and dedicated Lookout, should always be posted when personnel are in should always be posted when personnel are in close proximity to any vehicular traffic.close proximity to any vehicular traffic.

Typical European crash sceneTypical European crash scene

EMSPD

Fire/Rescue

Common U.S. crash sceneCommon U.S. crash scene

As of November 24, 2008… this is non-compliant traffic control safety apparel!

As of November 24, 2008… this is non-compliant traffic control safety apparel!

Highway Safety Apparel Classifications

Highway Safety Apparel Classifications

Class IClass I

Class IIClass II

Class IIIClass III

ANSI 107 StandardANSI 107 Standard

“Class 1” vest in useby airport baggage handler

“Class 1” vest in useby airport baggage handler

Shortcoming of a Class I vest: No side coverage

Shortcoming of a Class I vest: No side coverage

…and the shortcoming of wearing NO Vest!

…and the shortcoming of wearing NO Vest!

ANSI 107 Class II vest:High-visibility green body with red trim, or…

ANSI 107 Class II vest:High-visibility green body with red trim, or…

ANSI 107 Class II vests withHigh-visibility red/orange body with green trim

ANSI 107 Class II vests withHigh-visibility red/orange body with green trim

Optional 5-Point Breakaway Velcro Closures

ANSI has a second vest standard; the ANSI 207 “Public Safety Vest”

ANSI has a second vest standard; the ANSI 207 “Public Safety Vest”

U.S. Department of TransportationFederal Highway Administration

February 2008

“…we reviewed the ANSI/IISEA 207- 2006 publicsafety vest standard very carefully and found this standard compatible with the ANSI/ISEA Class IIrequirements for night-time visibility.”

ANSI 107 High-Visibility Vest ANSI 207 High-Visibility Vest

Note shorter length to allow access to

items on belt

A “Class III” garmenthas sleeves

A “Class III” garmenthas sleeves

Class III jacket, shirt, & pants ensemble

Class III jacket, shirt, & pants ensemble

Vests can be pre-donned over turnout coats

then taken off if responding to a fire call.

Vests can be pre-donned over turnout coats

then taken off if responding to a fire call.

Vests may be a concern at car firesduring extrications, or at

hazmat incidents

CAL FIRE employees engaged in emergency operations that directly expose them to flame, fire, heat, and/or hazardous materials shall not wear retro-reflective high visibility vests over NFPA 1971 compliant turn-out gear.

CAL FIRE employees engaged in emergency operations that directly expose them to flame, fire, heat, and/or hazardous materials shall not wear retro-reflective high visibility vests over NFPA 1971 compliant turn-out gear.

While wearing protective clothing, under exposure to fire situations, firefighters must remain in protected area on highway.

When the coat comes ‘OFF’, the vest goes ‘ON’.

While wearing protective clothing, under exposure to fire situations, firefighters must remain in protected area on highway.

When the coat comes ‘OFF’, the vest goes ‘ON’.

Do Not Wear the VestDo Not Wear the Vest When a When a CAL FIRECAL FIRE

employee is employee is involved in vehicle involved in vehicle extrication extrication operations and a operations and a NFPA 1971 NFPA 1971 compliant turn-out compliant turn-out coat is worn as the coat is worn as the proper level of PPE.proper level of PPE.

Do Not Wear the VestDo Not Wear the Vest When a When a CAL FIRECAL FIRE

employee is directly employee is directly engaged in the actual engaged in the actual extinguishment of a extinguishment of a wildland fire and the wildland fire and the employee is exposed to employee is exposed to flame, fire, high heat flame, fire, high heat and the and the CAL FIRECAL FIRE compliant nomex compliant nomex wildland ensemble is wildland ensemble is being worn as the being worn as the proper level of wildland proper level of wildland PPE.PPE.

Do Not Wear the Hi Visibility Do Not Wear the Hi Visibility VestVest

When a When a CAL FIRECAL FIRE Peace Officer is Peace Officer is engaged in an emergency incident, engaged in an emergency incident, where the high visibility vest would where the high visibility vest would increase the conspicuity of that increase the conspicuity of that officer and thereby compromise the officer and thereby compromise the cover and concealment of that cover and concealment of that officer, to the detriment of that officer, to the detriment of that officer’s safety, or…officer’s safety, or…

Do Not Wear a Hi-Visibility VestDo Not Wear a Hi-Visibility Vest

When a When a CAL FIRECAL FIRE Peace Officer is Peace Officer is involved in a high risk involved in a high risk “potential adversarial “potential adversarial or confrontational or confrontational role” and the high role” and the high visibility vest would visibility vest would interfere with and/or interfere with and/or compromise the compromise the officer’s ability to officer’s ability to protect him/herself.protect him/herself.

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CAL FIRE Vest SpecificationsCAL FIRE Vest Specifications

Product Requested;Product Requested;ANSI-107 Highway Safety Vests for Emergency ANSI-107 Highway Safety Vests for Emergency Responders that meet the following specifications;Responders that meet the following specifications;

Class 2, Level 2 ANSI Red mesh with contrasting silver/lime-yellow Class 2, Level 2 ANSI Red mesh with contrasting silver/lime-yellow material and silver reflective stripes using 3M Scotchlite material and silver reflective stripes using 3M Scotchlite reflective;reflective;

One Pen & Paper utility pocket on left chest integrated into vest One Pen & Paper utility pocket on left chest integrated into vest design with contrasting color microphone tabs on each lapel area.design with contrasting color microphone tabs on each lapel area.

Tear-away Velcro feature at both shoulders, both sides, & front Tear-away Velcro feature at both shoulders, both sides, & front chest,chest,

One size fits all design, L to 3XL. (special order; Size 4XL - 5XL at One size fits all design, L to 3XL. (special order; Size 4XL - 5XL at additional cost)additional cost)

1- American flag patch on left chest 1- American flag patch on left chest The word" FIRE" printed on right vertical stripe in all upper case The word" FIRE" printed on right vertical stripe in all upper case

letters letters "CAL FIRE" printed on silver reflective patch on back of vest in all "CAL FIRE" printed on silver reflective patch on back of vest in all

upper case letters except for the letter ‘c’. All text in black ink.upper case letters except for the letter ‘c’. All text in black ink.

ReviewReview

The intent of FHWR 23CFR Part 634 The intent of FHWR 23CFR Part 634 and and CAL FIRECAL FIRE Policy 1728 is to Policy 1728 is to decrease the likely hood of employee decrease the likely hood of employee injury and maintain free flow of injury and maintain free flow of vehicular traffic by requiring vehicular traffic by requiring CAL FIRECAL FIRE employees whose duties place them on employees whose duties place them on or in close proximity to a roadway by or in close proximity to a roadway by wearing high-visibility safety apparel.wearing high-visibility safety apparel.

“If your feet are on the street… Your vest is on your chest!”

REMEMBER