The Canadian SAFE Work Manitoba has issued a bulletin to raise awareness of the
hazard faced by emergency workers - police, fire and paramedic services -
providing emergency roadside assistance, who are at risk of being struck by
vehicles travelling in nearby traffic lanes.

To minimize the risk associated with working near moving traffic, employers
must establish and implement safe work procedures. The procedures must provide
effective means of traffic control for emergency responders who are providing
roadside assistance. Safe work procedures must be appropriate to the task, for
example, rescuing a trapped individual from their car, stabilizing a victim
before they are transported by ambulance, responding to an emergency call and
parking on the side of the road, and other unusual circumstances. Emergency
response workers must be trained to follow these procedures and be provided
with tools and resources needed for protection.

Worker protection

In addition to implementing safe work procedures, there are other precautionary
measures that can be taken to protect workers providing emergency roadside
assistance:

• Devices to warn approaching drivers (i.e. warning signs, flares or traffic cones, barriers, lane control devices, flashing lights, automatic or remote controlled traffic control systems, flag person(s)


• Emergency roadside (assistance) equipment


• Personal protective equipment and


• Communication equipment

More information

AplusA-online.de - Source: Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety