Scene Safety

HELLO EVERYONE,I have been having a discussion with fellow firefighters on my department about wearing reflective vests while on accident scenes, some people feel since our turn-out gear is pretty well reflective  already is there a need to where them to? any advice would be appreciated thanks.

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Permalink Reply by Fireyladd - Retired Chief Sharp on August 12, 2010 at 2:40pm
Unless your PPE meets the newest an current reflective standards for turn-out reflectivety then you are required to wear the reflective vests meeting the standard. Yup! I know it seems silly and ultamately I think its more about the industry lobying to make us all spend money and buy vests but thats the way it is. Better to be safe and meet the standards then sorry an have someone get hurt or worse.
Permalink Reply by Jack/dt on August 12, 2010 at 2:41pm
Have you all been in a cave somewhere?

See this response by Mike Schlags (Capt. Busy) - http://www.firefighternation.com/forum/topics/889755:Topic:1162989?...

and this article - http://respondersafety.com/Articles/High_Visibility_Firefighter_Saf...

So unless your gear has way more reflexite than the norm, yes you have to wear them. Stripes on cuffs, legs, wrists, arms and torso are not considered enough. The bigger question is: Why would you NOT want to wear them? Anything to make yourself more visible can't be a bad thing.
Permalink Reply by Paul Montpetit on August 12, 2010 at 2:42pm
It is a Federal Mandate as of November of 2008 that ANYONE working within 50 feet of a federally funded roadway HAS to wear an ansi class 2 or class 3 safety vest/jacket...Turn-out gear does NOT meet that standard...the only exception to the rule is that if you are in full gear manning a hoseline then you do not have to have it on....if your department chooses to ignore this and someone gets hurt....well it will be a big picnic and they are serving shit sandwiches..guess who will take the first big bite....? Your Chief....
Permalink Reply by Reg Mathis on August 12, 2010 at 2:55pm
Personaly, I wish they made a whole jumpsuit out of the stuff and added a flashing red light to velco to the top of my helmet to wear on all MVA's or any other scene where I'm near a street or highway!

Unless you WANT to bounce off of the hood of Tiffany's SUV because she was texting because "OMG!!! Bethany and Richie BROKE UP!!!!"

I saw a blurb on the news this morning that someone has come up with a device that attaches to your vehicle that jams cell phone receptoion as soon as the transmission goes it to Drive(or 1st gear, I suppose.) I would be completely behind a federal mandate that this device be MANDATORY on ALL vehicles!!!
Permalink Reply by Jack/dt on August 12, 2010 at 5:15pm
Did I read something some time back about there having to be a warrant before a cop could go through someone's phone?
Permalink Reply by Derek R. on August 12, 2010 at 5:25pm
That road is a scary place when you're working on it. As mentioned before, why would anyone NOT want to wear a vest. I thought it was mandatory as well. If not, then it should be.
Permalink Reply by Derek R. on August 12, 2010 at 5:29pm
Permalink Reply by Roy Walker on August 12, 2010 at 6:00pm
The more visibility the better as far as I'm concerned. You can't be watching your back and concentrating on the scene so anything that helps is truely welcome.
Permalink Reply by Jack/dt on August 12, 2010 at 6:40pm
Derek,

Yeah it was the NYT article that I had seen. It's reassuring to know I knew what I thought I knew, ya know?

You're right, it depends on where you are when you get arrested. Your third link, the cnet one is very interesting.

I wouldn't necessarily see it as a violation of privacy for police to see if a phone call or text message was the cause of an accident. On the other hand, to whom the call or text was sent might be another matter.
Permalink Reply by Jack/dt on August 12, 2010 at 6:55pm
Apparently some people didn't get the memo.
Re: Bethany and Richie...I suspect Snookie is involved somewhere.
Permalink Reply by John on August 12, 2010 at 7:05pm
Whether there is or not our Dept mandates it and for my own personal safety I will wear one unless advised to pack up due to possible fire.
Permalink Reply by Ron King (Fire Chief) on August 12, 2010 at 7:09pm
If you are not fighting fire wear the vest.

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