Email Enquiry

Reversing Vehicles (SOP/PDF or PowerPoint)

Initial Email Enquiry –

One of our members is looking for a procedure for 'banksman' in relation to safe reversing of emergency services vehicles including the correct hand signals which should be employed. If anyone has a procedure or a PowerPoint presentation which identifies this it would be appreciated.

1st Response –

I had been looking for procedures for the guide / spotter when backing up fire trucks, or hand signals used by the spotter when guiding the driver/ operator. This was a request from Pine Pienaar (Manager EMS – Sasol Synfuels Secunda, South Africa).

I realize that in South Africa we are driving on the Left hand side of the road and that some of our vehicles have the steering wheel on the right hand side, but we also have a few that is on the left hand side. We would with permission from the owner of the procedure, South Africanize the procedure. If you have any knowledge of a EMS department with this procedure in place, please forward their information to me in order for me to contact them and arrange the sharing of knowledge. It is fitting that I just received an e-mail from Pine with incidents on fire trucks, including the unfortunate incidents that occurred during backing up of fire trucks.

2^nd Response –

Even though I have retired from Conocophillips I still kept my contacts in the States. I sent the email to the group and the attached Web site address has been sent to me. Hope it will be of use to you.

Click here to view website: SOP 205.05 Driver Safety.

3^rd Response –

here's a start:

Reversing of Brigade Vehicles Instructions
The role of the driver:

• The driver bears the responsibility for the safe driving of the vehicle. He should always be ready to stop, get out and check the area behind the vehicle for himself.The driver should always use a guide.The driver should ensure that the guide is adequately instructed on his role and the signals to be used.The driver must not move or should stop if the guide is not in view, either directly or in the mirror.Reversing should be undertaken at the slowest practicable speed.
• Reversing though a restricted opening should so far as practicable be done in a straight line.

• The guide has a responsibility for the safety for anyone in the vicinity and for his own safety.The guide must confirm that he understands his role and his signals to be used.The guide should position himself so that he can be seen clearly by the driver but is well away from any danger from the reversing vehicle and any other traffic. The guide should if possible give signals form in front of the driver, but he may need to be stationed at the rear when the vehicle is reversing towards pedestrians, other vehicles, a road junction or an obstruction.The guide must give signals in sufficient time for the driver to act on them safely.
• A second guide may sometimes have to be nominated solely to keep people out of the path of the vehicle.

End of email correspondence on Topic to date

Author’s identities are concealed for privacy and security reasons. Further information on the information contained in this topic can be directed to the JOIFF secretariat.