Operational safety at reenactments

[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.

[Jason Ginn]

This is a great topic with much good info already!

I can say for me the following points were key.

- 0 booze before or during vehicle ops

- full vehicle checks before daily ops. Inc. fire ext, comms, fuel leaks and levels, track or tire condition, battery hold down, brakes steering and lights. Gas fires in armoured boxes are really bad!

- functional comms for CC and Dvr.

- ground guide(s)!!!!! Not just anybody that can flap about like they are trying to fly, but a TRAINED person that uses the same signals that the driver and Cc are trained in.

- when a vehicle moves it has a ground guide and or commander. Anything in public spaces and for loading should have a GG at all times.

- never fuel in public spaces

- all crew should be trained on how to safely enter and exit the vehicle, particularly in an emergency.

- no matter who owns the vehicle the CC is in charge! The driver does make decisions unless there is a safety concern.

- driver and CC should have and understand each other's commands. Real emergency stop vs stop when you have a chance comes to mind.

- never reverse a arms vehicle without a guide.

- do not let public into vehicles without supervision. They flick switches fall out and bang into things. It's a fact!

-crew and passenger rule. if you are sitting in a vehicle stay sitting. Standing , stay standing. People get hurt moving around in a moving vehicle.

- don't let people sit on a vehicle. If they are in it they should have a seat.

Probably lots more but this is all I can think of now.

Hope this help.

[Edwin Wand]

Do you have a picture of the type of work platform you use. Its an interesting idea. Indiscriminate climbing on soft skins can be dangerous, especially for children whose parents are not with them or just don't think.

We never though of platforms but it might be an idea whose time has come; but falling off a viewing platform can be as equally bone breaking as falling off an armoured vehicle.

Good point about ground guides; people who think they can run a carrier with everyone safely sitting down even with a ground guide need to find another outlet for their interests. No Cdn unit would allow carrier codrivers to be seated when the carrier was in motion. After all, the co-driver is the vehicle commander. He may also be either the convoy commander or the signal relayer to the carriers behind.

[rob love]

Ed

I don't have a photo handy but I'll snap one tomorrow when I am at work. Basically they are steps with a platform on top and guard rails surrounding the upper platform with handrails for the stair portion. They are available from 3 feet to around 16 feet in height.

I managed to pick up 8 brand new platforms from the tax department in Winnipeg on a crown asset sale. They cost the government around $450 each, and cost me around $50 each. Previous to that I bought 3 from the Germans when they left Shilo for $10 each. Now there was a bargain.

Here is a shot of one from the internet. They are available commercially from places like Acklands.

[Robert Bergeron]

Gents,

My recent safety concern is with photographers. Either amateur or professionals.On a recent HMV parade during wich i was driving my Carrier, through the streets of my town on Remembrance Day , at least two of that kind threw themselves in front of me as i was riding at close to 20 MPH . People expect we can stop on a dime.

In one instance i caught the lower part of my pant leg on the something and had difficulty reaching the brake pedal down low below the sloping armour.

I was barely able to stop in time 5 feet from the guy. He tought it was funny and smiled, thinking i was showing off. He had his objective on my face so i started smiling for posterity . He almost got badly injured or killed and he did not even know it.

That taught me to think ahead just like when i see deer or moose on the highway's edge. Foot off the gas pedal and on to the brakes at ready . Breaks your convoy speed and distance between vehicles but a life is worth much more than uniformity.

I agree with the posters . Stand or sit but don't move around and yes , the CC in a Carrier should be standing and looking all around. Also, don't climb , i have a very nice stepladder i carry around to help you in and out one at a time.

I look forward seeing the agreed checklist that is coming out if this tread.

[Jim Burrill]

I think I am seeing this shake out into four (at least) areas
1) Vehicle and Crew safety
2) Display safety
3) Parade/road safety
4) Tactical (reenactment) safety.


I will sort through the posts so far and chunk them that way.

This is really a "Group-mind" process, So please voice your opinions, even if someone has already mentioned something. Good to see concurrance, as well as perhaps from a slightly different perspective.

Illustrations..... Not sure how to incorporate those - not for a check list, bit for a longer "booklet" format on practical safety for HMV's.

(booklet just to contain the topics, not as in a booklet to buy. Once I get to the .pdf stage, we can all copy and share.

Illustrations - any of on-scene accidents? Can blur faces. Some of the most attention getting safety messages during my Navy days were actual photos in the safety magazine called "Approach" (here is a link to archives of several Navy magazines - http://www.gjenvick.com/Military/Nav...#axzz3uRkeyldX

Any other pictures of accidents just waiting to happen, write ups of near misses, or AARs of ones that hit.

You can see where I am going with this.

Thanks to all who have responded so far!
Jim