While our regular duties are infrastructure and communications related, we occasionally find ourselves in a roadway environment. In most cases, it will be deploying a roadside asset, either a towable or a standalone. In these instances, it is critically important to practice good roadway safety.
TIM, or Traffic Incident Management, is an important training resource to help us further our safety goals. The roadway environment is constantly fraught with potential danger. As an example, in 2021 the Emergency Responder Struck-by-Vehicle Fatalities report shows 65 responders were killed. This includes law enforcement, fire / EMS, tow operators, road service technicians, and DOT / SSP personnel. It does not reflect road crews for municipalities, power and communications companies, general construction, or volunteer responders such as ARES or CERT, these increases this number.
Fortunately, we have an online resource that provides National TIM Certificate training for everyone who is likely to find themselves doing work on the nation’s roadways. Responder Safety has a nationally recognized TIM certificate training program available to anyone interested, at no cost.
It is highly recommended that all ARES personnel complete the National TIM Certification training at least once, preferably every few years. This training could save your life on deployment.
Page last updated 3 JAN 2023