Rapid Incident Scene Clearance (RISC)Orientation 2009

Goals and Objectives

• Provide participants with an overview of the Rapid Incident Scene Clearance (RISC) program.

• Identify incident communications procedures regarding RISC.

• Indentify agency responsibilities during each phase of a RISC Incident.

Goals and Objectives

• Identify incentive categories.

• Clarify incentive procedures for extra equipment.

• Provide Cost Recovery information and data collection requirements.

• Identify scenarios for RISC implementation.

Purpose and Scope• To safely and quickly remove major incidents

from the highways so that traffic can resume normal safe operations and reduce secondary collisions.

• Scope of Service– RISC will only be implemented on limited access

highways.– Will only be used when significant impacts to

traffic and safety are evident. Accidents involving large vehicles should not automatically trigger the implementation of RISC.

Why RISC?• RISC standardizes the response

requirements for the vendors.

• Additional equipment is available and additional equipment vendors have been pre-identified.

• Provides an incentive for work to be completed in a timely manner.

Why RISC?• There are a limited number of vendors

with the specialized equipment needed to right and remove a large, over-turned vehicle.

• Delayed arrival times of wrecker services or arrival with the wrong type of equipment often leads to increased traffic delays and greater risk of secondary collisions.

Funds Restrictions

• RISC funding can only be used for incidents that occur on limited access facilities.– Off ramps and on ramps will be considered, if

the incident significantly impacts travel on the main line.

Equipment required in contract • One 50-Ton or heavier hydraulic, extendable, fixed

boom, ultra heavy duty recovery wrecker with a boom structural rating (TEMA or SAE) of 100,000 lbs.

• The unit shall be equipped with an under reach tow unit with a capacity of 50,000 lbs.

• One 35 ton capacity heavy duty type wrecker. • Mobile cranes may be substituted as long as they are equipped

for crash recovery operations.

• One of these units must be a rotator type wrecker.

Equipment required in contract • Support vehicle with an enclosed or utility body• Roof mounted DOT approved MUTCD Type B arrow

board

• The truck shall be stocked with MUTCD traffic control devices (signs, sign stands and cones etc.) and the additional tools, equipment and material listed.

• A trailer may be substituted to carry the traffic control devices as long as the support vehicle has a roof mounted arrow board.

• Heavy-duty skid steer loader with bucket, broom, and fork attachments.

Subcontracted Service Providers

Additional Trucks and Heavy Equipment Requirements

• 1 Tandem axle tractor with a sliding fifth wheel• 1 Rubber tired, articulated, heavy construction end

loader with a minimum 2 yard bucket (when loaded on the lowboy trailed the combined height must not exceed 13ft.‑6in.)

Subcontracted Service Providers– A Maintenance of Traffic (MOT) Contractor that

can provide and set up MUTCD and FDOT approved work zone traffic controls including a Worksite Traffic Supervisor.

– A Disposal Company that can deliver to the scene of an incident dumpsters or hoppers for crash debris, fire debris and or spilled non-hazardous cargo.

– A Vacuum or Suction Service for off loading or recovering spilled grains, powders, plastic pellets, etc.

Subcontracted Service Providers– A Trucking or Transport company that can provide

dump, refrigerator or flat bed trucks and trailers.– A Construction Crane Rental Company with 50 ton or

larger mobile cranes.– A source of bulk sand available 24 Hours a day, 7

days a week.– 1 Tilt bed, hydraulic, lowboy semi-trailer (Landoll or

equivalent) with a 35 ton capacity, 48 ft. bed and a 20,000 lb. winch with 75 ft. of 5/8” cable

Rotation Lists• Where two or more contractors are responsible for a given area and are qualified per the contract specifications as defined by the FDOT District office, a rotation system will be established to maintain fairness for the contractors.

• FHP or the TMC will manage the rotation list.

• In the situation, where there is only one vendor for an area and that vendor is unable to respond because of another incident; the next closet qualified vendor will be requested.

FDOT and FHP

• Responsible for tracking incident times.

• Will communicate to the contractor as much information about the incident including location, incident access information, vehicle type and load information if available.

Key RISC timesIncident occurrence – Performance measurement

Incident verification - Performance measurement

Request to activate RISC with notification to vendor - for Incentive

Vendor arrival on scene - for Incentive

Notice to Proceed given - for Incentive

Travel lanes (and shoulders in D2) cleared - for Incentive

Incident cleared - Performance measurement

Sharing Information

• According to the FDOT District either RTMC or the FHP regional communications center will be recording the key times for RISC. It will be very important for the Traffic Management Centers and TIM program managers to have these records because they will be coordinating the cost recovery from the responsible party.

Contractor Expectations

• Should maintain good working communications equipment.

• Provide and update 24 hour contact information to dispatch centers and TMC personnel.

• FDOT and FHP will not be responsible for lost work activities because of malfunctioning cell phones or outdated contact information or outdated Point of Contacts for Contractors.

RISC Vehicle Classes

•Tractor Trailer Combinations (DOT Class 8)•Rollover blocking one or more travel lanes•Multiple truck crash•Lost Load on or affecting the travel lanes•Load Shifted on or affecting a travel lane•Lost tandems or split trailer on or affecting a travel lane•Truck fire with tires burned off or cargo spilled•Major impact with or on top of a barrier wall, guard rail or with a bridge support.

A.Trucks over 16,000 lbs. (DOT Class 5, 6 & 7)A.Rollover blocking one or more travel lanesB.Lost load on or affecting the travel lanesC.Load shifted on or affecting a travel laneD.Truck fire with tires burned off or cargo spilledE.Major impact with or on top of a barrier wall, guard rail or with a bridge support.

Guidelines for possible RISC activation

•Motor Homes and Motor Coaches (DOT Class 5 and 6)A.Rollover blocking one or more travel lanesB.Fire with tires burned offC.Major impact with or on top of a barrier wall, guard rail or with a bridge support

•Busses (16 passenger or more, DOT Class 6, 7 & 8)•Rollover blocking one or more travel lanes•Fire with tires burned off or burned luggage on the roadway•Major impact with or on top of a barrier wall, guard rail or with a bridge support

A.AircraftA.Any incident involving an aircraft effecting the travel lanes

•Large yacht type boats•Mobile Homes, Modular Homes, or Modular BuildingsNote: In addition, any complex or extended incident where vehicles cannot be easily towed from the scene or are creating a hazard to traffic may be candidates for using the “Vendor” as directed by the District.*Includes but not limited to

Decision Making

•Determining factors• What makes an incident a candidate for

RISC?• Incident Location• Time of Incident occurrence• Condition of vehicle.

• The answer is all of the above!

• Each one of the above situations can be a determining factor when deciding whether an incident qualifies for RISC implementation.

Decision Making

• Location:Is the incident near…..

• Major City• Major intersection• Are viable alternate routes available?

Decision Making

• Time of day is directly related to location:

• An incident occurring on I-595 at 2AM, where traffic volumes are significantly lower, may not

prompt a RISC activation.

• The same incident occurring on I-595 at 6AM could very well initiate a RISC activation.

The Initial response• In most instances, the Florida Highway Patrol or

local law enforcement will have overall control of the scene.

• As responders arrive, consider the scene set-up and establish MOT with available resources, consider requesting additional MOT. Begin considering alternate routes and detours.

• Activate ITS systems from TMC if available.• Note times and number of lanes impacted.• Note potential HAZMAT situations.• Consider need for RISC activation

The Incident

• Either law enforcement or FDOT will make the decision to activate RISC, depending on the FDOT District.

• Request for RISC implementation – This marks the beginning of the sixty minute clock for RISC incentive. Once the contractor arrives at the incident scene within, the sixty minute window; the first portion of the bonus is achieved ($600).

• There is no certain time window between arrival on scene and notice to proceed. If the contractor is not permitted to begin recovery operations, the mobilization incentive $600 applies.

The Incident

• The responsible party may request use of their own towing service. If that service can arrive and clear the scene in an expedited manner, they can be allowed to do so. However, if RISC is activated and arrives on scene within 60 minutes; they will receive the 600 arrival incentive; unless they are given a Notice to proceed.

• FHP or FDOT may stop the work and direct the removal of a non-RISC vendor if the vendor shows an inability to properly handle the incident and direct the RISC vendor to proceed.

The Incident

• Notice to proceed – Notice given by the investigating law enforcement or FDOT representative to begin incident clearance activities.

• Once the notice to proceed is given, the contractor has 90 minutes to clear the travel lanes. After 90 minutes, the contractor looses the incentive, but is not assessed liquidated damages. After 180 minutes, the contractor can be assessed liquidated damages.

• Incident cleared – All evidence of the incident is removed from the roadway area.

The Incident

• Time outs or Time suspensions– Should RISC clearance activities be halted by a

responding agency official (Fire, LEO, FDEP, FDOT…etc) time will be considered frozen until the situation that forced the stoppage is resolved. The vendor will be allowed to have time to re-establish equipment positioning if needed, otherwise the 90 minute clock will start again from where it was originally stopped.

– Example – Work stopped 45 minutes into clearance, vendor will have 45 minutes remaining to clear the lanes once work begins.

Liquidated Damages

• If the Vendor has not completed the removal and clearance of the vehicles, non-hazardous cargo, debris and vehicle fluids after three hours from the Notice to Proceed, and all travel lanes are not open to traffic as a result, a flat rate of $600 can be assessed against the Vendor at the discretion of the authorized representative of the District. An additional $600 will be assessed for each additional hour or $10 per minute it takes the Vendor to completely open the roadway to traffic.

Liquidated Damages• Exceptions:

– Incidents involving trucks hauling a Hazardous Material cargo that by direction of the Department authorized representative require special precautions.

– Incidents involving damage to the roadway infrastructure that prohibit reopening the travel lanes.

Hazardous Materials

Non cargo hazardous materials

These are fluids from the vehicles that are used to for vehicle operation and are a necessary part of the vehicle such as oil, transmission fluid, diesel fuel or gasoline, anti-freeze, or brake fluid.

The clean-up of these materials is guided by the State of Florida Traffic Incident Vehicle Spill Guidelines, approved June, 25, 2004.

Initial clean-up and control of these materials can be handled by on scene personnel without waiting for a Hazardous material contractor.

Additional Equipment

Some days a situation will require more than your normal average heavy duty wrecker!

Additional Equipment• When should extra equipment be

requested?– When the vehicle has lost its load, unless the

load can be replaced onto the original trailer.– When the vehicle is not capable of normal

towing, once righted.– If the vendor needs the extra equipment to

prevent further damage to the roadway– When there is significant debris from the crash.

Additional equipment• The additional equipment incentive is paid when the RISC contractor is requested to provide the

equipment. • Once requested and the equipment arrives, the

contractor is eligible to receive a $600 incentive payment. This initial incentive payment cannot be charged to the responsible party (insurance company).

• Once the equipment has been utilized in the response, the incentive payment is increased to $1000 and the total amount can be charged to the responsible party’s insurance company.

Cost Recovery

• The following items will be needed for the FDOT claims process.– Contractor invoices– Event timeline – Crash report from Law Enforcement Agency

(if available) and always a case number.• Case number should be included

– Photographs from contractor

Break

Implementation Discussion

Requires specialized equipment.

What other information is needed?

Implementation Scenarios

This incident occurred on an off ramp to a rest area.

Implementation Discussion

•The condition of the vehicle is a primary factor.• Is the vehicle moveable with tow straps or chains?• Was there a fire which burned the vehicles tires.• Was the load lost or in jeopardy of shifting during movement?

Implementation Scenarios

I-75 SB near Exit 293, 11AMHAZMAT response contractor en route

Implementation Scenarios

I-95 exit 278, north bound, 11PM

Implementation Scenarios

I-10, Mile Marker 108 East bound, 9AMHurricane Dennis approachingEvacuation Orders likely within 6 – 12 hours

Summary• The accuracy of recorded times are very important

for several reasons first and foremost is for the contractors incentives. Secondly, as DOT attempts to recover costs from the responsible party, the documentation of the incident will be reviewed and possibly refuted, should the responsible party question the RISC times.

• The times will also be used to measure the performance of the program with respect to the reduction of incident clearance times.

Summary

• Incentive payments are based on the promptness and accuracy of the vendor.

• Vendors should be detail oriented and keep good logs for RISC activations, including pre and post removal digital photographs.

• Investigating officers should be aware that “Time Stamping” of discrete events during the incident response will be extremely helpful.

Summary

• Vendors are expected to obtain and maintain training as per the scope of services provided in the contract.

• FDOT District TIM coordinators can provide assistance with MOT training courses.

• Additional equipment as earlier discussed should only be dispatched by the contractor when officially requested.

Response Partners

• Florida Highway Patrol• The Florida Turnpike• FDOT Motor Carrier Compliance• Local Law Enforcement• Local Fire and EMS agencies• FDOT Districts• Florida Independent Towing and Recovery

Association• Professional Wreckers of Florida