1. PURPOSE
To outline requirements relating to the conduct of traffic management operations by the State Emergency Service (SES).
2. RATIONALE
To ensure traffic management operations are conducted in accordance with established requirements and standards, in an effective, efficient and safe manner.
3. APPLICATION
Applies to all SES members.
4. OPERATIONS DOCTRINE INFORMATION
Traffic management operations involve the employment of skills to manage the flow of traffic through a defined or designated area with regard to safety and efficiency. The SES operational response function of traffic management involves the activities of traffic control, incident site and road diversion.
In Queensland, the conduct of traffic management operations is governed by legislative requirements administered by the Department of Transport and Main Roads (TMR).
In accordance with the provisions of the Transport Operations (Road Use Management) Act 1995 and the Statutory Instruments Act 1992 a Traffic Controller Accreditation Scheme was introduced in 2003.
The scheme details that any person who carries out traffic control duties on a road in Queensland as a component of their job must be accredited and that the traffic management company working on state-controlled roads must be registered.
SES members are exempt from obtaining accreditation under the TMR accreditation scheme in the following circumstances:
• when undertaking traffic control duties in an emergency situation as authorised under the provisions of the Disaster Management Act 2003; or
• when controlling traffic on a road at the direction of a police officer; or
• when undertaking traffic management duties associated with directing traffic within a car park (ie car park attendant activities such as directing drivers to parking positions, making sure cars are safe from theft and damage, opening and closing gates to allow entry to and exit from parking areas and cleaning up spills and broken glass).
Accredited Traffic Controller training is not provided by the Queensland Fire and Emergency Services (QFES) for Queensland SES.
SES OPERATIONS DOCTRINE – OPERATIONAL DIRECTIVES
Operations
ODO 27.0 Traffic Management
Valid from 28/01/2014 Version 3.0
The training provided by QFES for Queensland SES members will continue to be focused on providing the skills and knowledge necessary to perform traffic management operations in emergency situations.
It should be noted that while SES members are frequently involved in not-for-profit community activities, this type of car park attendant activity is NOT regarded as traffic control on a roadway or around a road worksite. Unless SES members are performing traffic management duties as the first on scene in an emergency situation / incident site as described in section 5.2.1 below, they must not signal or direct any vehicle to slow down, stop or change direction, or use the STOP/SLOW bat to imply they are Accredited Traffic Controllers.
Note:
In 2010 a Traffic Management Registration Scheme was introduced by TMR to ensure that organisations providing traffic management services on state-controlled roads demonstrate safety, quality and consistency in their organisational processes.
Companies/organisations are required to be registered under that scheme in circumstances where TMR stipulates the requirement under a contract provision with a principal contractor, or as a condition of granting a traffic control permit. The SES is not presently required to register under the scheme, as it does not provide traffic control services on state controlled roads under a contract with TMR or under a permit issued by TMR outside of an emergency situation.
4.1 DEFINITIONS
In accordance with relevant legislation, the terminology used in this doctrine has the following definitions:
Accredited Traffic Controller: A person who holds an appointment as an accredited person under section 21 of the Transport Operations (Road Use Management) Act 1995 and Transport Operations (Road Use Management – Accreditation and Other Provisions) Regulation 2005.
An accredited traffic controller has completed an approved traffic controller training course delivered by a registered training organisation and meets other pre-requisite requirements including suitability checks.
An accredited traffic controller must comply with all statutory conditions of accreditation including controlling traffic in accordance with the Traffic Controller Accreditation Scheme Approved Procedure, and the Manual of Uniform Traffic Control Devices.
SES Traffic Controller: An SES member who has been assessed as competent, including maintaining competency, in traffic control by the Queensland SES and has the necessary skills to control traffic while involved in performing functions as specified under section 82 of the Disaster Management Act 2003. The SES Traffic Control qualification only allows appointed SES Traffic Controllers to provide traffic control during an emergency.
Traffic: A vehicle or person using a road.
Road: An area open to or used by the public for the riding or driving of vehicles, whether on the payment of a fee or otherwise (includes public-access car parks).
The term ‘Road’ also includes road-related area that is: an area that divides a road; a footpath or nature strip adjacent to a road; an area that is not a road and that is open to the public and designated for use by cyclists or animals; an area that is not a road and that is
open to, or used by, the public for parking vehicles; any shoulder or auxiliary lanes of a road. 5. PROCEDURAL INFORMATION
5.1 AUTHORITY
Traffic management operations are conducted under the authority of the QPS.
SES Groups that meet minimum requirements can hold a role in the function of traffic management. For further information on the allocation of SES functions refer to “ODO 2.0 SES Functions and Allocation”.
5.2 REQUESTING AUTHORITY
The authority for the conduct of traffic control operations is the QPS. 5.2.1 EMERGENCY SITUATION / INCIDENT SITE
Where traffic management functions are requested in relation to the management of an incident site, the performance of the traffic management operations are to be requested and authorised by QPS. In instances where QPS are not at the incident site, traffic management operations may be requested by the Queensland Ambulance Service or Queensland Fire and Rescue Service and conducted under the authority provided by their respective legislation.
In instances where the SES are the first or only attending emergency service agency at an incident site or where an SES team in transit identifies a requirement for traffic management operations to be commenced, traffic management operations may be undertaken where SES members act in good faith in the interests of protecting life, property or the environment. As soon as the situation is made safe, contact should be made with QPS to provide advice of the circumstances and the action undertaken by the SES.
5.2.2 NON EMERGENCY / PLANNED EVENT
Traffic management operations to be conducted as a component of a non emergency planned event may be requested by a range of agencies or organisations. Consideration must be given not to be competing with local private businesses that offer traffic controlling services at commercially organised events. Unless this request is purely for directing traffic within a car park (ie car park attendant activities) by a not-for-profit organisation, the activity should not be undertaken.
Any associated approval, permit and/or traffic management plan is to be managed and obtained by the agency requesting or managing the planned event. SES members are not to develop traffic management plans. The responsibility and liability associated with these plans rests with the agency managing the planned event.
Should a situation arise where there is any level of concern over the authority for the performance of traffic management activities then the endorsement of QPS should be sought prior to commencing any operations. If this authorisation is not provided, compliance with the Traffic Controller Accreditation Scheme will apply.
For further information on the activation of SES Groups refer to “ODO 1.0 Activation Guidelines”.
5.3 MEMBER AND TEAM REQUIREMENTS 5.3.1 QUALIFICATIONS
To attain qualification as an SES traffic controller, SES members must complete SEM0801 Traffic Control and meet the criteria for suitability.
The criteria for suitability as an SES traffic controller are:
• SES members are to be a minimum of eighteen (18) years of age and have held an open or provisional drivers licence for a minimum of twelve (12) months within the past five (5) years.
• Be physically fit and not suffer from conditions that would affect their conduct of traffic controller duties. Specific conditions include:
o Eyesight
- be able to distinguish a vehicle, clearly at a distance of one hundred and fifty (150) metres. If corrective lenses are worn while driving, they must be worn while performing traffic control duties. If the person has visual problems including colour perception, a medical practitioner may need to certify the SES member’s ability to perform traffic control duties - have visual acuity of 6/12 which would allow a
vehicle number plate to be read at a distance of up to 20 metres on a clear day (character size number plate 77mm x 12 mm)
- have reasonable judgement of speed and distances so that the traffic controller can decide when to exit the path of an oncoming vehicle that fails to stop or slow down as directed
- be able to distinguish a red coloured disc (of 450mm diameter) from a yellow coloured disc (0f 450mm diameter) at a distance of 250 metres on a clear day.
o Hearing - hear a supervisor’s instructions, vehicle warning device and emergency vehicle sirens above normal traffic noise; differentiate noises emanating from the left side, right side and behind the traffic controller; and have sufficient hearing to be able to communicate via portable communication equipment (such as hand held radios).
o Mobility – not suffer from a physical disability that limits mobility or endurance. SES members must be able to quickly move out of the path of an approaching vehicle that does not stop or slow down as directed and to stand for periods of up to two hours without a break. In addition, SES members/team first aid qualifications must be in accordance with the requirements for traffic control as detailed in “ODO 55.0 First Aid”.
5.3.2 COMPETENCY MAINTENANCE
SES members are required to maintain competency as a qualified SES traffic controller to continue performing this function. Refer to the SES Competency Maintenance poster for details on the minimum competency maintenance periods for SEM courses which can be obtained from the Area Office.
Competency maintenance also requires SES members to keep up to date on information pertaining to operations, policies, techniques and procedures.
For further information on competency maintenance refer to “ODO 30.0 Competency Maintenance”.
5.3.3 TEAM COMPOSITION
SES traffic controller teams are to comprise of a minimum of two (2) SES members; however, the nature of the task may require the support of additional SES members. SES traffic control teams are to be lead by qualified and appropriately experienced SES traffic controllers.
5.4 EQUIPMENT
5.4.1 PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT
All SES members participating in traffic management operations should ensure the appropriate standard issue and operational issue personal protective equipment is worn to ensure adequate safety and protection as outlined in “ODO 32.0 Personal Protective Equipment”.
It should be noted that current issue operational uniforms meet day/night retro reflective requirements and are tagged detailing that “This garment complies with AS/NZS4602:1999 Day/Night Use”. It is imperative that SES members participating in traffic management operations are wearing compliant day/night retro reflective uniforms and where non compliant uniforms are worn a compliant safety vest is to be worn over the non compliant uniform.
Wearing of the broad brimmed hat is mandatory for all outdoor activities during daylight hours with the exception of operations where a protective helmet is required. Exceptions to this include where the SES Executive/Team Leader has conducted a risk assessment and deems the SES cap appropriate for the activity. Where the protective helmet is worn for extended periods, the use of a sun helmet is recommended. In addition, the use of sunglasses and sun protection cream is recommended.
5.4.2 GENERAL EQUIPMENT
The following are the minimum equipment requirements for traffic management operations:
Qty Item
2 Approved traffic control stop/slow bats
40 large (700mm) traffic cones with reflective collars
6 multi message frames & stands with changeable panels* 2 hand-held radios
2 traffic wands / torches with cones
- lighting equipment to provide a safe and effective work area
- first aid equipment must be available at each traffic control work site
* Panels for multi message signs include Prepare to Stop’, ‘Traffic Incident Ahead’, Drive Safely and appropriate speed signs.
** Multi message frames, stands and panels as well as Stop/Slow bats must comply with the requirements detailed in the Queensland Manual of Uniform Traffic Control Devices.
5.5 OPERATIONAL ISSUES
5.5.1 BLOOD ALCOHOL LEVEL
An SES member activated to undertake traffic management operations must have a blood alcohol level of 0.00.
For further information on blood alcohol levels refer to “BMH 12.0 Drugs and Alcohol”.
6. ADMINISTRATIVE INFORMATION 6.1 REPORTING
Operational reporting relative to the initial activation, ongoing operations and at the conclusion of any traffic management activation both verbal and written is to be undertaken in accordance with the standard operational reporting requirements outlined in “ODO 36.0 Reporting - Operational”.
7. FORMS AND TEMPLATES Nil
8. APPENDICES Nil
9. RELEVANT LEGISLATION, POLICY AND GUIDELINES Disaster Management Act 2003
Statutory Instruments Act 1992
Transport Operations (Road Use Management) Act 1995
Transport Operations (Road Use Management – Accreditation and Other Provisions) Regulation 2005
TMR Traffic Controller Accreditation Scheme Approved Procedure RTO Training Policies and Procedures
SES Competency Maintenance Poster
EMQ School of Emergency Management: Traffic Control Participant Guide QSES – BMH 12.0 Drugs and Alcohol
QSES – ODO 1.0 Activation Guidelines
QSES – ODO 2.0 SES Functions and Allocation QSES – ODO 30.0 Competency Maintenance QSES – ODO 36.0 Reporting - Operational QSES – ODO 55.0 First Aid
10. DOCUMENT REVIEW
This document will be reviewed every 18 months or as otherwise required as a result of identified legislative, policy and/or procedural changes.
Original Signed
Lee A Johnson AFSM MIFireE Commissioner
Queensland Fire and Emergency Services
