TRAFFIC CONTROL CONCEPTS FOR INCIDENT CLEARANCE

3.0 INCIDENT RESPONDERS

Identification of affected jurisdictions and agency responsibilities is critical for effective response to incidents. While involvement will vary depending on the scope and severity of an incident, each entity should be involved in the planning process so that each has a clear understanding of roles, responsibilities, resources, communications protocols, and other aspects of the incident management program. This is especially true when roles overlap; addressing all issues outside of an actual incident will reduce conflicts and confusion.

Operations Personnel

Operations personnel are typically associated with transportation departments whose response priorities focus on restoration of normal traffic flow. They may implement on-scene traffic control strategies for quick clearance and, once preliminary traffic control is in place, they support clean-up and recovery efforts so that the scene may be cleared and traffic delays minimized.

Fire Responders

First responders are those individuals who arrive first at the incident scene. They provide the initial response to assist crash victims while isolating and protecting the scene and responders by implementing immediate traffic control. First responders typically include law enforcement, fire-rescue, and emergency medical services ( EMS). Their first priority is the safety of motorists, victims, and other responders; they have a secondary emphasis on resuming traffic flow.

Secondary Responders

Secondary responders are those individuals who take over certain incident scene responsibilities from operations personnel and first responders, such as traffic control set up. They are not generally first on scene and provide support functions to assist in the incident response. Typically their focus is traffic control and management.

Table 1 Indicates typical roles and responsibilities of incident responders.

Response Agency	Roles and Responsibilities
Law Enforcement (state patrols, sheriffs, local police departments)	Assist in incident detection and verification Determine severity of incident and condition of victims and relay information to dispatch Isolate and secure incident scene Provide emergency medical aid until help arrives Serve as incident commander, as conditions warrant Supervise scene clearance Direct traffic Conduct crash investigations
Fire Rescue (career and/or volunteer fire departments)	Protect and contain incident scene Suppress fire Rescue crash victims from damaged vehicles and treat injuries Arrange transportation for injured Provide initial hazardous material (HazMat) response and request additional clean-up resources Serve as incident commander, as conditions warrant Assist in incident clearance
911 and Other Dispatch	Receive 911 calls from land lines, cell phones, and call boxes Dispatch appropriate response agencies
EMS	Provide advanced emergency medical care Determine destination and transportation requirements for injured Coordinate evacuation with fire, police, ambulance, or airlift Stabilize and transport incident victims
Department of Transportation (DOT) Personnel – Maintenance	Provide initial and short-term traffic control Provide special equipment or resources as requested Contain minor spills if possible Coordinate with law enforcement regarding alternate routes Coordinate personnel resources for DOT Assess infrastructure damage
DOT Personnel – Traffic Operations	Assist in incident detection and verification Operate intelligent transportation systems (ITS) field devices per approved response plans Provide traveler information to public and media Dispatch service patrols Notify other agencies of incident as required
DOT Personnel – Construction	Similar duties as DOT maintenance personnel, but within work zone Coordinate with contractor for traffic control and repairs
Service Patrol (Public and Private)	Assist in incident detection and verification Secure incident scene Assist with and relocate disabled vehicles Provide emergency medical aid until help arrives Provide containment of minor spills Provide initial traffic control
Towing/Wrecker Services	Protect victims’ property and safely remove vehicles from the scene when authorized Remove debris from roadway Clean up minor vehicle spills Provide transportation for uninjured vehicle occupants Provide minor repairs on scene Serve as incident commander as conditions change from rescue to recovery
Hazardous Material Responders	Manage fluid spill cleanup
Media/Information Service Providers	Distribute traveler information via radio, television, internet, and 511 telephone services Provide real-time information Provide advance information regarding planned events and proper procedures
Coroners/Medical Examiners	Investigate fatalities