Austroads has published two new guidelines to aid with incident response vehicle (IRV) design and procurement and is now awaiting industry feedback.
The new publications provide guidance on the models, types and design specifications of incident response vehicles, and guidance on when and how truck-mounted attenuators (TMA) and other attenuator vehicles should be used in incident response scenarios.
While timely and effective incident response is important, the first responders to incidents work in a high-risk environment and need to be considered more.
“The fatality rate for first responders is 1.5 times higher than the national workplace fatality rate. It is critical that we improve the safety of all people involved in roadway incident response,” says Austroads transport network operations program manager Amy Naulls.
The design and procurement guide focuses on three vehicle types: tow trucks, truck-mounted attenuators and utility vehicles.
These are then separated into three stages: determining models and general specifications, determining additional features and equipment, and determining markings, signs and other identification measures to ensure visibility and identifiability of the incident response vehicles.
The use of truck-mounted attenuators guide provides guidance on when and how TMAs and other attenuator vehicles should be used in incident response scenarios.
The practical information provided in both guidelines serves as a valuable resource for all stakeholders involved in incident response, contributing to a harmonised and safer working environment for incident response teams and road workers.
“This guidance will help create a safer environment for incident response teams and road workers while still allowing practitioners to respond to differing local needs,” says Naulls.
Austroads encourages industry professionals and stakeholders to provide feedback on the guidelines, fostering a collaborative effort to further refine and enhance these critical resources.
The feedback window is open until June 1, 2024.