NIOSH

The NIOSH Firefighter Fatality and Prevention Program has released the investigative report of a Pennsylvania volunteer fire police captain who died after being struck by a motor vehicle on a controlled roadway in 2010.


On February 12, 2010, a 62-year-old male volunteer fire police captain (the victim) was fatally injured when he was struck by a motor vehicle while positioned at a controlled intersection. The victim was dispatched to the scene of a motor vehicle incident to control traffic. He had placed 5 warning devices (lime green traffic cones) across the two-lane roadway and lighted a flare adjacent to the traffic cones.

A short time later, as he was standing near the middle of the blocked-off roadway with his back to oncoming traffic, a motor vehicle ran through and over the cones striking him.

After initial first aid was administered by two volunteer fire fighters, the victim was transported to the local hospital by ambulance where he was pronounced dead about 2 ½ hours later.


Contributing Factors
Occupational injuries and fatalities are often the result of one or more contributing factors or key events in a larger sequence of events that ultimately result in the injury or fatality. NIOSH investigators identified the following items as key contributing factors in this incident that ultimately led to the fatalities:

• no advance warning to motorists of the blocked-off roadway
• the inconspicuousness of the victim
• the victim had his back to oncoming traffic.

Key Recommendations:

• ensure that the placement of warning devices (portable signs, traffic cones, flares and portable changeable message signs) informs drivers of what to expect when approaching an incident scene
• ensure that personnel controlling traffic wear high visibility apparel and helmets
• ensure that standard operating guidelines include guidance on identifying and maintaining a safe location while working in or near moving traffic
• ensure that a personnel accountability system is in place and adhered to during emergency operations
• utilize state and local departments of transportation for additional resources
• consider participating in the establishment of local traffic incident management committees.

Additionally, incident management agencies (e.g. departments of transportation) should

• consider disseminating traffic control and road condition information to motorists utilizing local commercial and public radio and television broadcasts.

Fire service representatives and interested parties should

• participate in the development of new safety standards to reduce the risk to emergency personnel providing traffic control at emergency incidents.