Nebraska TIM Best Practices: Traffic Control Device Packages and Instructor Training Aid Packets

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1 TIM letter National Traffic Incident NEWSResponder Management (TIM) Training Program January 015 Nebraska TIM Best Practices: Traffic Control Device Packages and Instructor Training Aid Packets As part of their Traffic Incident Management (TIM) training efforts, the Nebraska Department of Roads (NDOR) Safety Committee implemented the Traffic Control Device Packages Project. The committee allocated Highway Safety Improvement Program (HSIP) funds to the project to encourage volunteer fire departments, emergency medical services, law enforcement agencies, emergency management agencies, and public works departments to participate in the TIM training and to provide them with the tools they need to manage incident sites. Departments that have at least six members attend the 4-hour TIM training receive $600 worth of traffic safety devices, including: Two 48-inch fluorescent pink EMERGENCY SCENE AHEAD roll-up advance warning signs with stands Five 8-inch MUTCD-compliant collapsible traffic cones Six ANSI-compliant Class II high-visibility safety vests Of the 478 fire departments, with 13,780 firefighters, providing vital services to the citizens of Nebraska, most are from sparsely populated areas and have very limited funding. The traffic control devices are very effective in enhancing the visibility of incident scenes and in improving the safety of roadway users and responders. From a HSIP perspective, these devices address the roadway departure and intersection safety critical emphasis areas of the Nebraska Strategic Highway Safety Plan. Nebraska s Traffic Control Device Packages Continued on page Note from the SHRP National TIM Responder Training Program Manager Congratulations, 014 was another great year for the SHRP National TIM Responder Training Program. Since August of 01, we ve conducted 137 Train-the- Trainer sessions and trained almost 100,000 emergency responders. All 50 states, Puerto Rico and the District of Columbia have now conducted at least one Trainthe-Trainer. The National SHRP TIM Training map is all blue now and many state training numbers continue to climb. Kudos to those states who have implemented incentives to promote their TIM training. I encourage you to think out of the box, and explore ways to use safety and other funding streams to do the same. States have been asked to calculate their emergency responder population to better understand their training demand moving forward and hopefully setting goals to train them all. FHWA is thankful to each and every one of you for all your hard work and dedication to this life saving, congestion reducing, quality of life program. I encourage you to continue working with your TIM partners to schedule in-person 4-hour SHRP TIM training classes. Let there be no doubt, the benefits of multidiscipline training, together under one roof, cannot be underestimated. Besides the great student Continued on page 3 STRATEGIC HIGHWAY RESEARCH PROGRAM

2 January 015 Success Story of the Quarter Just a quick note to share a recent success story with the TIM program. After attending a Train-the-Trainer session last May, I came back to my fire department, assisted in creating policy and added TIM to our department s training program. Members of my department have been trained in the concepts of TIMs and it paid off today. While working at the scene of a motor vehicle collision on Route 3, our engine was struck by a vehicle that had lost control due to slick road conditions. Because of the placement of the engine in accordance with TIM concepts, the engine took the hit and the vehicles and personnel operating at the original collision were protected. One firefighter who was in the engine at the time of the crash was taken to the hospital with minor injuries and is fine. The engine received substantial damage and is out of service. The two occupants of the vehicle that struck the engine were taken to the hospital with minor injuries. The firefighters credited the TIM training for the outcome of the incident. Jason Cavallaro, Captain Hanover Fire Department (MA) Continued from page 1 Nebraska TIM Best Practices: Traffic Control Device Packages and Instructor Training Aid Packets NDOR also developed training aid packets for Nebraska s TIM instructors to use while training and conducting tabletop exercises. The instructor training aid packets include two-dimensional tabletop setups, a flash drive with the 4-hour Nebraska-specific PowerPoint presentation, a copy of the Emergency Response Guide (ERG), the Nebraska 013 Traffic Crash Facts booklet, copies of Nebraska laws discussed during the class, and copies of other materials used in the 4-hour class. The training handouts are also on the flash drive so that the instructors can make additional copies as necessary. Additionally, the instructors are given three maps as part of the two-dimensional tabletop setups to use for the tabletop exercises. The two-dimensional tabletop setups include laminated cut-outs of fire trucks, ambulances, tow trucks, etc. that are used during the tabletop exercises. These cut-outs save the great expense and inconvenience of searching for small model vehicles for the exercises. Two-Dimensional Response Vehicles The equipment for taking the TIM Class was well received by the members of the departments that took the class in Edgar. They were real happy with the big safety signs that most did not have nor would probably buy due to cost, and the vests and cones along with the signs make everyone feel safer. The class was a great review for some and a definite plus to everyone in how to position emergency vehicles at an incident. Thanks for the class. -Bob Rose, President, Edgar Rescue Please remember to submit your successes to: FHWATIMTraining@hntb.com Each quarter we will select a success story to share in the TIM Newsletter. Pictures are also welcome and much appreciated. For additional information about Nebraska s TIM training efforts please contact: Mark Meints John J. Perry, P.E. Highway Emergency Safety and ITS Engineer Program Specialist Federal Highway Administration, Nebraska Department of Roads Nebraska Division (40) (40) mark.meints@nebraska.gov john.j.perry@dot.gov

3 January 015 Communications Toolkit The National TIM Responder Training Program Communications Toolkit is also available on the TIM Training SharePoint site. Material in this toolkit will assist you in setting up training, support outreach to others, and help you promote the overall TIM training program. To support communications and outreach the toolkit includes a customizable promotional brochure, a customizable executive briefing/overview PowerPoint presentation, and a TIM training article template that can be used in a newsletter or blog. The toolkit also includes templates, success stories, an endorsement poster, a customizable bookmark, and a customizable Next Steps brochure. New Supplemental TIM Training Tools We are happy to announce that a number of new supplemental training tools are now available on the TIM Training SharePoint site. TIM Training for Dispatchers and TMC Operators The TIM Training for Dispatchers and Transportation Management Center (TMC) Operators was developed to ensure that this unique group of responders understands, and is integrated into, the TIM process. The training curriculum shares much of the content from the TIM training for responders but has a greater focus on the role dispatchers and TMC operators have in TIM. The training is organized in three modules and can either be presented in one 3-4 hour session or as individual modules. Continued from page 1 Note from the SHRP National TIM Responder Training Program Manager interactions during tabletop and outdoor exercises, many life-long relationships are established at classes. Relationships that are transferred into TIM field operations and expanded throughout agencies growing other TIM champions. All this good news said, we have much more work to do. We have over a million responders that routinely respond to crashes and other traffic incidents and our goal is to reach all of them with the SHRP TIM training over the next decade. In addition, many states are collaborating with their public safety academies and other accreditation entities to help institutionalize TIM training for future generations of emergency responders. Our towing and recovery partners are working with law enforcement to require tow operators to take the SHRP TIM training before they can participate on their towing rotation contracts. Slowly but surely, we are making a difference saving responder and motorist lives. In October, FHWA launched the SHRP TIM Responder Web-based Training (WBT) through its training arm, the National Highway Institute (NHI). For those in need of clarification, the WBT does not and cannot replace the in-person training. So far, less than a thousand have taken the WBT but I expect that number to grow with time. Web-based Training stats are being collected and are broken down by discipline and state. A report will be generated next month similar to the current SHRP training reports. For reasons stated above, states should continue scheduling 4-hour in-person training as the priority however, please market the WBT as an excellent alternative for emergency responders unable to attend in-person classes. It s also a good way to get refresher training. The course is free, has 10 modules and takes approximately 4 hours to complete but can be taken one module at a time. Students do need to complete the module they are taking in one sitting or else they will be required to repeat that module when they log back in. The modules are narrated and include knowledge check questions. To receive a completion certificate, students are required to score 70% or higher on the 30 question final exam. Students are also prompted to complete a course evaluation prior to being able to print their course certificate. I am happy to report that overall, course evaluations have been very positive. Again, the WBT is a good supplement to the SHRP in-person classes and both will help us reach those million plus emergency responders moving forward. James G. Austrich SHRP National Traffic Incident Management Responder Training Program Manager Federal Highway Administration, Office of Transportation Operations (0) james.austrich@dot.gov Continued on page 4 3

4 January 015 Continued from page 3 Quick Reference Guide The TIM Training Quick Reference Guide provides on- and off-scene responders with reminders to assist with TIM response. The quick reference materials are available as a PDF and can be downloaded on any device that supports PDFs. Examples of topics covered include: Vehicle Positioning and Scene Safety Scene Size-Up Progress Reports Communication Guidelines Tabletop Exercise Materials The suite of materials available for tabletop exercises has been significantly expanded to provide a range of roadway types and scenarios. The new materials include: 18 Roadway Plots 8 Exercise Scenarios Two-Dimensional Vehicles Tennessee TIM Training Facility On October 30, 014, the Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security and the Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT) celebrated the opening of the Tennessee TIM Training Facility. The facility is dedicated to providing first responders, including law enforcement, fire/ems service, transportation, and the towing industry, the knowledge and skills for safe and quick clearance of roadways that are closed by crashes and other hazardous incidents. The training site concept was introduced to TDOT by Tennessee Highway Patrol Colonel Tracy Trott and is the first of its kind in the nation. The training site, which features freeway segments ranging from two to six lanes, a two-way interchange, and a full four-way intersection, is located on land adjacent to the THP Training Center located in Nashville, TN. TDOT applied for and received federal Highway Safety Improvement Project (HSIP) funds, which will cover 90% of the $91,05.05 cost to build the facility. TIM Training HELPDesk Please remember that the TIM Training HELPDesk is available Monday thru Friday, 9:00 am to 7:00 pm eastern. HELPDesk Telephone: (414) HELPDesk FHWATIMTraining@hntb.com The purpose of the HELPDesk is to provide ongoing support to trainers after they have attended a Train-the-Trainer session. This includes questions about the training materials, assistance with training implementation, and assistance accessing the TIM Training SharePoint site. Tennessee TIM Training Facility TIM Training Added to THP Tow Rotation List Requirements Shortly after the completion of the TIM Training Facility, the Tennessee Highway Patrol (THP) announced that all tow truck owners and drivers employed by companies on the THP rotating schedule towing list will be required to attend TIM training by the end of the 015 calendar year. It will be the towers responsibility to contact their district wrecker lieutenants to arrange attendance for TIM training at the THP District Headquarters in their areas. The 4-hour TIM training will be taught by other first responders including THP Troopers. At the end of 015, those who have not complied will be removed from the list for 016. As new drivers come on board, they will be required to take the training course before towing anything for the THP. THP has made this a one-time training for now and will not require it be completed yearly. 4

5 January 015 National TIM Responder Training Program Implementation Progress As of December 31, 014 LEGEND TtT Location TIM Training in Progress AK WA OR NV CA HI ID AZ UT MT WY CO NM ND SD NE KS TX OK MN WI IA IL MO AR MS LA 3 MI IN KY 5 TN AL OH 3 GA WV SC PA VA NC NY VT NH DE ME NJ MD DC RI CT MA 137TtTSESSIONS with 5,396 PARTICIPANTS FL PR Discipline Train-the-Trainer Responder Training Total Percentage Law Enforcement 1,681 6,975 8, % TRAINING TOTALS Fire/Rescue 1,59 6,79 8, % Towing and Recovery 381 4,115 4, % EMS 3 3,09 3, % DOT/Transportation 1,110 10,755 11, % Other Disciplines 400 3,60 4,00 5.0% Total Trained 5,396 75,385 80, % Number of Sessions 137 3, ,781 TOTAL TRAINED 5

6 January 015 National TIM Responder Training Program Implementation Progress As of December 31, 014 LEGEND TtT Location TIM Training in Progress ,364 1,04 4,839 1, ,393 3, Mexico: 397 1, , ,008, , ,60 10,634,30,160 1, ,557 1,098 1,515,010,460 1, ,01 1, , ,735 1,856 1,041 75,385 RESPONDERS TRAINED (NOT INCLUDING TtT) % (6,78) 10.3% (17,50) 11.5% 4.8% (13,180)) (7,500) 0.6% (4,930) 7.3% (71,3) 14.6% (,500) 13.6% (17,100) 15.1% (13,45) 7.% (31,000) 9.3% (37,000) 8.1% (95,173) 3.0% (40,517) 410,114 RESPONDERS TO BE TRAINED 80,781 TOTAL TRAINED 6