SOP_NUMBER: 511.25
TITLE: Occupational Safety and Health—Persons Riding in Motorized Vehicles
REFERENCE_CODE: IVN10-0007
DIVISION: Facilities
TOPIC_AREA: 511 Policy—Fire Services
EFFECTIVE_DATE: 2002-04-01
WORD_COUNT: 546
POWERDMS_URL: https://public.powerdms.com/GADOC/documents/105880
URL: https://gps.press/sop-data/511.25/

SUMMARY:
This policy establishes safety requirements for all persons riding in or operating motorized vehicles owned by the Georgia Department of Corrections, specifically applied to certified firefighters in state and county fire departments. The policy requires that all vehicle occupants be properly seated and secured with seatbelts, prohibits riding in exposed positions or while standing, and mandates ear protection when required. It also establishes specific safety protocols for hose-loading operations on moving apparatus, including the requirement for a safety observer and speed restrictions.

KEY_TOPICS: firefighter vehicle safety, motorized vehicle safety, apparatus safety, seat belt requirements, hose loading operations, safety observer, tailboard riding, standing in vehicles, ear protection, vehicle operator responsibilities, fire department safety, occupational safety and health, NFPA 1500 compliance

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FULL TEXT:
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|GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS<br>Standard Operating Procedures|Col2|Col3|
|---|---|---|
|**`Functional Area: `**<br>`SUPPORT SERVICES/FIRE`<br>`SERVICES`|**`Reference Number: `**<br>`IVN10-0007`|**`Revises`**<br>**`Previous`**<br>**`Effective Date:`**<br>`NEW`|
|**`Subject:`**<br>`OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY &`<br>`HEALTH/PERSONS RIDING IN`<br>`MOTORIZED VEHICLES`|||
|**`Authority:`**<br>`WETHERINGTON/HODGE`|**`Effective Date:`**<br>`4/01/02`|`Page`**`1`**` of`<br>**`3 `**|

```
I. POLICY:

   This standard shall apply to all persons riding in or on a
   motorized vehicle owned or operated by the Department except
   for EMT and paramedic students approved to ride on motorized
   vehicle. Student riders are covered by a separate standard.

II. APPLICABILITY:

   All Department of Corrections Certified Firefighters in State
   and County Fire Departments.

III. RELATED DIRECTIVES:

   NFPA 1500

IV. DEFINITIONS:

   NONE

V. ATTACHMENTS:

   NONE

VI. PROCEDURE:

   A. (General)

      1. No one shall be allowed to ride in an apparatus or
         motorized vehicle unless he/she is a Firefighter of
         the Department or has obtained special permission to
         ride as an observer.

      2. Persons riding in or on a motorized vehicle shall
         observe the following:

```

|Functional Area:<br>SUPPORT SERVICES/FIRE SERVICES|Prev. Eff. Date:<br>NEW|Page 2 of<br>3|
|---|---|---|
|`Functional Area:`<br>`SUPPORT SERVICES/FIRE SERVICES`|`Effective Date:`<br>`4/01/02`|`Reference Number:`<br>`IVN10-0007`|


```
      a. All persons shall be seated in an approved
         riding position and shall be secured by a seat
         belt anytime the vehicle is in motion.

      b. Riding on the tailboard, running board, or
         other exposed position is strictly prohibited.

      c. Standing while riding is prohibited. Any
         member who rides in a standing position shall
         immediately be suspended pending an
         investigation of the incident.

      d. At no time shall anyone dismount a vehicle
         while it is still in motion.

      e. All persons riding on an apparatus that
         requires ear protection shall wear ear
         protection devices provided while the vehicle
         is in motion and whenever the audio warning
         devices are in use.

B. HOSE-LOADING OPERATION

   1. Hose-loading operations may be permitted on moving
      apparatus provided that the following conditions are
      met:

      a. A Firefighter other than those loading the hose
         shall be appointed as a safety observer. The
         safety observer shall have an unobstructed view
         of the hose-loading operation and shall be in
         both visual and voice contact with the
         apparatus operator.

      b. Vehicular traffic shall be excluded from the
         area or shall be under the control of an
         authorized traffic control person.

      c. Apparatus speed shall not exceed five mph when
         loading hose.

      d. The apparatus shall not be moved until all
         Firefighters involved in loading the hose have
         been made aware that the apparatus is about to
         be moved.

```

|Functional Area:<br>SUPPORT SERVICES/FIRE SERVICES|Prev. Eff. Date:<br>NEW|Page 3 of<br>3|
|---|---|---|
|`Functional Area:`<br>`SUPPORT SERVICES/FIRE SERVICES`|`Effective Date:`<br>`4/01/02`|`Reference Number:`<br>`IVN10-0007`|


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      e. Members in the hose bed shall not stand while
         the vehicle is being moved, and those
         Firefighters on the tailboard shall step off
         the apparatus prior to its being moved.

   2. The safety observer shall have the authority to
      discontinue any hose loading operation that is
      deemed to be unsafe.

C. RESPONSIBILITIES

   1. It shall be the responsibility of each Firefighter
      to comply with the provisions of this standard.

   2. Drivers shall not operate their vehicles unless
      everyone on board is in compliance with the
      provisions of this standard.

   3. Station Chiefs shall be strictly accountable for
      enforcing the provisions of this standard and shall
      correct any violations that are observed.

```