SOP's / SOG's
The Resources below are model Standard Operating Procedures (SOP’s) and Standard Operating Guidelines (SOG’s) for your organization to consult when determining what protocols you will adopt and how to codify them into a formal document.
Best Practices for Backing Fire Apparatus and Ambulances
This guideline outlines proper safety practices to be used when backing fire department and EMS vehicles and maneuvering in close-quarters situations.
Upload Date: 1/25/2018
Best Practices for Backing Fire Apparatus and Ambulances Video
This video defines the important points in a backing up SOP, demonstrates a recommended backing up procedure using a spotter, and reinforces the importance of training on and enforcing the backing up SOP.
Upload Date: 7/17/2018
Best Practices to Minimize Injuries and Deaths While Using a POV for Responses
To prevent injuries and deaths resulting from accidents involving POV responses.
Upload Date: 9/14/2015
Connecticut Traffic Incident Scene Management Field Guide
Developed by the Capitol Region Council of Governments Greater Hartford Traffic Incident Management (TIM) Coalition, this field guide provides guidance for traffic incident scene management for emergency response organizations. Includes TIM and responder safety basic principles, guidelines for deploying traffic control devices, recommended TIM procedures, and practical diagrams of traffic control applications like vehicle classification, stopping distances, and traffic incident management area setups for different roadway configurations.
Upload Date: 10/21/2021
Highway Incident Safety and MUTCD Guidelines for Emergency Responders
The Cumberland Valley Volunteer Firemen’s Association (CVVFA) and their Emergency Responder Safety Institute (ERSI) developed this manual and the accompanying online-based training course for first responders and other personnel who respond to roadway incident scenes. In the initial minutes of a roadway incident, responders often find themselves operating in moving traffic at great peril.
Upload Date: 11/6/2013
Highway Lane Designations and Terminology
This reference card from the Emergency Responder Safety Institute illustrates the accepted highway lane numbering system and nomenclature for describing roadways in consistent terms.
Upload Date: 5/9/2011
Improvised Explosive Device (IED) Safe Standoff Distance Cheat Sheet
This reference card lists the safe standoff distances for different improvised explosive devices, vehicles potentially carrying explosives and/or improvised explosive devices, and LPG tank sizes.
Upload Date: 5/7/2008
Model SOP/SOG: “Safe Positioning While Operating In or Near Moving Traffic”
This document is a model SOP/SOG to use as a “go by” when formulating your departments’ SOP/SOG on safe position of apparatus while operating on or near the roadway.
Upload Date: 7/11/2012
Model SOP: Safety Apparel While Working in Or Near Moving Traffic
This document is a model SOP to use as a “go by” when formulating your department’s SOP on the use of safety apparent while working in or near moving traffic.
Upload Date: 1/19/2022
Model Standard Operating Guideline (SOG) for Cone, Flare, or Sign Deployment at Traffic-Related Incidents
This document is a model SOG to use as a “go by” when formulating your department’s SOG for cone, flare, or sign deployment at traffic-related incidents.
Upload Date: 11/2/2009
New York State Emergency Traffic Control and Scene Management Guidelines
These guidelines were established to provide incident responders in the state of New York a uniform approach to emergency traffic control and scene management. The guidelines include incident response priorities, incident classification, responder safety, responder vehicles, establishing the traffic incident management area, staging, breakdown, and investigation.
Upload Date: 12/21/2012
Nova Scotia Emergency Responders Traffic Management Guidelines for Emergency Scenes
This manual, developed in Nova Scotia, Canada, presents guidelines for traffic management, including setup of the emergency traffic control zone, vehicle positioning, traffic control device placement, and incident command setup.
Upload Date: 6/11/2008
Simplified Guide to the Incident Command System for Transportation Professionals
This guide from the Federal Highway Administration introduces the Incident Command System (ICS) to stakeholders who may be called upon to provide specific expertise, assistance, or material dur¬ing highway incidents but who may be largely unfamiliar with ICS organization and operations. Topics covered include the ICS organizational structure, unified command, advance planning and coordination, and implementation.
Upload Date: 5/7/2008
State of New Jersey Highway Incident Traffic Safety Guidelines for Emergency Responders
This document provides uniform operational guidelines to ensure safe operations by emergency responders dispatched to incidents on limited access highways in the State of New Jersey. These guidelines identify vehicle safe positioning, common general safety, and onsite practices for all emergency responders.
Upload Date: 11/30/2010
Study of Protecting Emergency Responders on the Highways and Operation of Emergency Vehicles
A Review of First Responder Agencies Who Have Adopted Emergency Lighting and Vehicle Conspicuity Technology. *A new draft and been issued on June 12, 2019 with two corrections on page 27.*
Upload Date: 6/12/2019
Traffic Hazards to Fire Fighters While Working Along Roadways
This alert describes the hazards facing fire fighters working along roadways, presents two case studies, and lists recommendations for prevention of struck bys.
Upload Date: 1/7/2013
Traffic Incident Management Area Reference Diagram and Emergency Responder Checklist
This ResponderSafety.Com reference card diagrams the layout of a Traffic Incident Management Area and provides important traffic management details, including incident magnitude definitions, TIMA area lengths based on posted speed limit, and an Emergency Responder Checklist for crucial roadway response actions.
Upload Date: 4/3/2019