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PCSAR Guiding Documents

Standing Order #9 - Policy for Team Safety

Issue Date: May 1994

PURPOSE

The purpose of this Standing Order is to ensure all members of PCSAR emphasize safety while responding to and participating in PCSAR operations.

SCOPE/POLICY

This Standing Order shall apply to all PCSAR team members and trainees while working for or representing PCSAR in any official capacity. This includes, but is not limited to: responding to the PCSAR building for a call, responding to the emergency scene (if PCSAR is responding), during approved training exercises, or working at the PCSAR building.

RESPONSIBILITY

It shall be the responsibility of all PCSAR team members and trainees to adhere to this policy. It is the responsibility of the PCSAR officers to ensure adherence to this Standing Order.

PROCEDURE

  1. Safety policy statement

    Safety for PCSAR members during all PCSAR operations shall be the chief concern of all members.

  2. Maintenance of buildings, grounds, vehicles, and equipment

    Safe work habits shall be practiced at all times while performing any maintenance activities on PCSAR equipment or property. This may require the use of assorted personal protective equipment (PPE) as needed including but not limited to: safety glasses or goggles, hearing protection, and gloves

  3. Emergency and Training Operations

    It is the policy of PCSAR to utilize the Incident Command System (ICS) while conducting emergency and field training operations. In PCSAR operations (emergency or training), the Incident Commander (IC) is responsible for ensuring safe operations. The IC may delegate a Safety Officer to assist in these duties if the operation warrants. It is the duty of all team members participating in PCSAR operations (emergency and training) to conduct himself or herself in a safe manner and to utilize the appropriate PPE when required. This includes, but is not limited to: bunker equipment, gloves, boots, harness, safety lines, and cold weather gear.

  4. Response to Emergencies

    1. Cold Response

      No lights or siren; personnel responding to the PCSAR building or directly to the scene of an emergency on a cold response in an emergency vehicle or Personally Owned Vehicle (POV) shall drive in a cautious and defensive manner and shall follow all traffic laws.

    2. Hot Response

      Eemergency lights and siren; personnel responding hot to an emergency scene with an emergency vehicle (no POV’s) shall drive in cautious and defensive manner, and shall follow all traffic laws except those expressly waived by SDCL for emergency response vehicles.

  5. Training

    PCSAR shall provide appropriate training for each member of the team in a safe work practices. This training shall include general work practices as well as specific safety rules for each rescue discipline to which PCSAR responds.

REFERENCE

PCSAR Constitution and Bylaws

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