Operational safety at reenactments

[Jim Burrill]

This is just a starting point. Most folks on this list have real-world armour experience in the field, or have years of taking restored armour to shows. Some also reenact and others dont.

Our club - the 15th (Scottish ) Reconnaissance Regiment has accumulated about 9 WW2 Armoured vehicles. As more are ready for the road, our participation at Mid-Atlantic events is growing.

Often, we are asked to load non-unit reenactors on our vehicles. sometimes it is the "wow" factor of "can I ride on yourxxxxx?" to organizers begging some space to help lift some troops to a needed area.

We have pre-event safety checks among the owners and their crews for such things as fire extinguishers, flashlights, small first aid kits, drinking water, eye-wash, goggles and what do we have as a radio net for the event and what channel is for medic events.

At the event, we try to get the organizers to give us five minutes with the troops taking the field to hold a really quick "Why the PBI are know as "Crunchies". and talk about blind spots, stopping distances, tactical backing up (we do it!) and why using the armor as a bit of cover is a dodgy idea.

We brief people how to run over to a vehicle to say something to the driver, (dont - talk to the guy in the turret!)

I would like to end up with a formatted checklist to print and take to events.

Any items you lot can think of please chime in. Also any safety "this is no shits"that we can repeat to the lads to drive a point home.

I have to say, in our area, the Germans have spilled more blood than us due to "pinch injuries" with their converted OT -810s and Hetzers. Fingers in closing armoured doors and dropped hatches coming to mind.

So, happy to share the results with any club.

Never a real military Safety Officer, but sat through many, many safety briefs during my 20 years in NAVAIR and see the value in them.

[maple_leaf_eh]

Start with the 5 senses - sight, sound, touch, taste, smell. The humour will keep peoples' attention.

Sight - vision blocks; blind spots

Sound - shouting doesn't always work, except to raise people's blood pressure; squeaky parts are moving all the time, don't become part of the grease they need.

Touch - pinch points; three points of contact when climbing; where to NOT stand inside

Taste - stay in the real world! Don't lick the paint even if you are having an erection just being near a .....;

Smell - diesel exhaust, fumes and smells can be overwhelming;

[Chuck Anderson]

Great topic Jim!

Two offerings.........

1. Have a designated POC to communicate with the driver. When you're "in the hole", you have no way of knowing if everyone has mounted up safely or not and everyone in/on the vehicle is yelling, laughing, not paying attention. If you generally ask if its clear, you'll get 20 different answers from 20 different people. The POC would be the only voice the driver should rely on to move the vehicle. He would also be the decision maker as to when the vehicle is "full". I've been told that all was clear and as soon as I stated to roll, everyone is freaking out yelling "STOP!!!". I didn't know if I just killed someone or what.... it turned out that someone really wanted to ride after we were moving and tried to jump on. The riders on the back were "guests" and didn't feel they had the right/responsibility to tell that person "no".

2. No leaning equipment/weapons against the vehicles. This may not be a "safety" issue per se, but it can lead to a major safety concern. Whether armour or soft skins, I've seen rifles get driven over and troops panicking to grab their gear from falling into the road wheels.

[maple_leaf_eh]

Something I find I have to do with my HMV is remind people that just because it is painted green and has lots of steel, that doesn't mean it is indestructable.

I tell them my M151A2 is a 40-year old collector's car and it is surprisingly fragile. Parts for mine are easy to get on the internet, but if you have a post-WW2 Czech made half-track, chances are good if something breaks it will take weeks or months to find and get the parts.

So, don't slam the doors! Don't drop the hatch covers! If it doesn't open easily, don't force it! If it looks breakable, for FU@K's(!!!) sake don't try to find out!

Finally, appeal to people's sense of ownership. One event I went to, a visitor was really shocked that everything was privately owned. (He must have thought the Army has a warehouses of WW2 British, Canadian, American and German history pieces.) Remind the reenactors that these are personal vehicles that you are sharing with the community. The golden rule applies. Don't abuse your generousity!

[Frank v R]

As a former CF member , very long time vehicle collector , living history type I have seen many things that did not need to happen , just this past year in the hobby 3 high profile deaths with tracked vehicles, bottom line not properly trained, I have seen parts of M1's fly past me , wrong ammo, I have a real problem with people that do not take this seriously , tracked vehicles KILL people , you must have intercomm systems, kids are NOT crew commanders, vehicles must be safe ! , there is no room for stupid! , ground guides ! , all you former CF types know what I am talking about and we must police our hobby to keep the hobby and everyone safe from the stupid ones,

[rob love]

Echo what Frank says. Trained ground guides. Also, 20+ tons of steel is not a play thing for a novice to drive, no matter how young and pretty she may be. I also don't let anyone climb on armour. Unlike a soft skin vehicle that has a little give, armour does not, and it will only be teeth coming out if the "climber" is lucky. I provide work platforms for the public to view the vehicles from higher, with suitable ropes to prevent climbing in.