Field Operations Guide for Safety/Service Patrols: Reference (2024)

Table of Contents

Incident Management Structure

Responders use the National Incident Management System (NIMS), a common framework for effective resolution of incidents large and small, including traffic incidents.

National Incident Management System (NIMS)

NIMS was created by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) under Homeland Security Presidential Directive (HSPD) 5. NIMS provides the framework for organizations to work together to prepare for, protect against, respond to, and recover from the entire spectrum of all-hazard events.

NIMS incorporates best practices currently in use by incident managers at all levels. It is the national standard for incident management across the various jurisdictions nationwide. Responders using the same standardized operational structures share a common focus and are able to place full emphasis on incident management.

In addition, national preparedness and readiness in responding to and recovering from an incident is enhanced because all of the Nation's emergency teams and authorities are using a common language and set of processes.

Incident Command System (ICS)

The ICS is one component of the larger NIMS framework.

ICS is the systematic tool for the command, control, and coordination of an emergency response. ICS allows agencies to work together using common terminology and operating procedures for controlling personnel, facilities, equipment, and communications at an incident scene.3

NIMS establishes ICS as a standard incident management organization with five functional areas: command, operations, planning, logistics, and finance/administration.

The principle of unified command has been universally incorporated into NIMS to ensure further coordination, especially during incidents involving multiple jurisdictions or agencies.

This unified command not only coordinates the efforts of many jurisdictions, but also provides for and assures joint decisions on objectives, strategies, plans, priorities, and public communications.

In major incidents, S/SP operators will be assigned to the Operations Section Chief, who often times is also the Incident Commander. The Operations Section Chief is responsible for implementing the Incident Action Plan (IAP) and manages all tactical activities. These activities include S/SP functions such as recovery, traffic control, vehicle spill cleanup, and other related operational functions.

Diagram depicts the Traffic Incident Management Incident Command System for Safety Patrols. At the top of the hierarchy is the Incident Commander. The Public Information Officer, Safety Officer, and Liaison Officer report directly to the Incident Commander as second tier personnel. Third tier personnel, who also report directly to the Incident Commander, include the Operations Section Chief, the Planning Section Chief, the Logistics Section Chief, and the Finance/Admin Section Chief. Service Patrol Operators report to the Operations Section Chief.
Figure 20. ICS Organizational Chart.

Traffic Incident Classification

Traffic incidents are classified in one of the following three categories as defined in the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD):

Major – expected duration greater than 2 hours.
Intermediate – expected duration between 30 minutes and 2 hours.
Minor – expected duration of less than 30 minutes.

Major traffic incidents are typically traffic incidents involving hazardous materials, fatal traffic crashes involving numerous vehicles, and other natural or man-made disasters. These traffic incidents typically involve closing all or part of a roadway facility for a period exceeding 2 hours.

Examples of major incidents include:

Chain reaction crashes.
Crashes that require a significant medical response, a coroner response, and/or a crash reconstruction response (e.g., fatality crashes).
Incidents that involve advanced, prolonged environmental clean-up, such as hazardous materials incidents.
Overturned tractor trailers.
Complex commercial vehicle incidents with large debris fields or cargo fires.
Structural damage.
Wild fires near the roadway.
Malevolent acts.

Intermediate traffic incidents typically affect travel lanes for 30 minutes to 2 hours and usually require traffic control at the scene to divert road users past the blockage. Full roadway closures may be necessary for short periods during traffic incident clearance to allow incident responders to accomplish their tasks.

Examples of intermediate traffic incidents include:

Major roadway debris.
Overturned cars, RVs, or small trailers.
Multi-vehicle crashes.
Commercial carrier crashes.

Minor traffic incidents are typically disabled vehicles and minor crashes that result in no lane closure or lane closures of less than 30 minutes. On-scene responders may include a combination of S/SP, law enforcement, fire, EMS, and towing companies.

Examples of minor traffic incidents include:

Disabled vehicles in a travel lane or on the shoulder.
Minor crashes that can be moved or relocated to the shoulder.
Minor roadway debris.

Vehicle Identification Guide

Accurate communications between on-scene responders, dispatch, and towing and recovery operators describing an incident and the vehicles involved helps with the quick and efficient clearing of the incident scene.

Use the guide below to describe to dispatch the type of vehicle that is disabled and the nature of the problem to enable the wrecker company to determine what type of tow/recovery vehicle that should respond.4

Figure 21. Law Enforcement Vehicle Identification Guide.

Multilingual Assistance

Should you encounter a situation in which the person needing assistance speaks another language, you can use the following pages to help communicate with the motorist.

Coverage Map

Figure 22. Sample Coverage Map

Important Contacts

**Table 2. Important Contacts**
Contact Type	Name / Title	Phone /Email/ Cell
Safety Patrol Supervisor
Safety Patrol Manager
Dispatch
TMC / TOC
Fire Rescue
State Police
Local Police / Sheriff
Maintenance
Public Works / DOT
Traffic
Public Works / DOT
Towing and Recovery
HazMat Notification
Animal Control
Emergency Management
Public Safety Answering Point	Emergency call center

Terms and Acronyms

AED	Automated External Defibrillator
AIS	Accident Investigation Site
AVL	Automated Vehicle Location
CCTV	Closed Circuit Television
CMS	Changeable Message Sign
CPR	Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation
DHS	Department of Homeland Security
DMS	Dynamic Message Sign
DOT	Department of Transportation
EMS	Emergency Medical Services
ERG	Emergency Response Guidebook
FFSP	Full Function Service Patrol
FHWA	Federal Highway Administration
FOG	Field Operators Guide
HSPD	Homeland Security Presidential Directive
ICS	Incident Command System
ITS	Intelligent Transportation Systems
LZ	Helicopter Landing Zone
MP	Mile post
MSDS	Material Safety Data Sheet
MUTCD	Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices
NIMS	National Incident Management System
PA	Public Address loudspeaker
PSAP	Public Safety Answering Point
TIM	Traffic Incident Management
TMC	Traffic (or Transportation) Management Center
TIMA	Traffic Incident Management Area
TOC	Traffic (or Transportation) Operations Center
TRAA	Towing and Recovery Association of America
TTC	Temporary Traffic Control
UC	Unified Command

3 Federal Highway Administration, Simplified Guide to the Incident Command System for Transportation Professionals, FHWA-HOP-06-004 (Washington DC: February 2006).

4 Guide content reproduced with permission of Towing and Recovery Association of America (Copyright 2009© TRAA). Graphics and artwork reproduced with permission of Tow Times magazine. (Alexandria, VA).

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