Attachment A-VI - GB Operating Manual.docx

attachment a-vi

RFP No.: 260000002219 Movable Bridges Operational and Custodial Services General Bridge Operating Manual

I. FORWARD

II. NOTE TO THE BRIDGE OPERATOR

III. JURISDICTION

IV. BRIDGE OPENING SCHEDULES

V. DISASTERS

VI. SIGNALING

VIII. BRIDGE MAINTENANCE

IX. INSTRUCTIONS AND GUIDES FOR COMPLETING FORMS

B. The procedures for bridge operations are intended to prevent damage to persons or property.

B. You are to be courteous and responsible at all times. Under no circumstances are you to participate in arguments with marine traffic operations or users of the bridge. If you follow the guide and procedures of the manual and any new instructions from your supervisors, communications with the public will be minimal and you will be performing your duties to a high standard. If you find yourself, at any time while on duty, about to lose your temper in dealing with any member of the public; don't do it. No good to you, the Contractor or the Department can result. Calm yourself and deal with the public reasonably or call the local police for assistance.

C. You are required and directed to familiarize yourself with the contents of this manual and any special regulations issued pertaining to the bridge which you operate. You are responsible for operating the bridge in strict compliance with this manual and to reference all applicable manuals (Attachment A-VII, Operating Instructions for Fort St, Bascule Bridge, Attachment A-VII-Bicentennial, and Attachment A-VII-Blossomland) and any other special instructions that you may receive from the Contractor or local Program Manager.

D. You or another competent, careful, reliable, bridge operator as certified by the Contractor shall be on duty at all times prescribed in the contract for the purpose of operating the drawbridge.

Such bridges owned by the Department have been constructed or maintained and operated by permit to the Department. All rules for the Contractor to operate the bridge shall be issued by the Department. For this purpose communication will normally be between the local Program Manager or a designee and the Contractor or a designee.

B. If any person knowingly fails to comply with any regulation or rule issued or order given under the provisions of 33CFR, or knowingly obstructs or interferes with the exercise of any power conferred by 33CFR, he shall be punished by imprisonment for not more than ten years and may at the discretion of the court, be fined not more than $10,000.00. Some of the information provided in this document is from the 33CFR United States Coastal Pilot 6. The Contractor is advised to purchase the 33CFR United States Coastal Pilot 6 and any updates for each bridge and be knowledgeable of the rules and regulations contained herein. The Contractor is advised that this information is subject to change and he should train and educate his bridge operating personnel accordingly.

C. In the event the Contractor believes a rule issued by the Department is in conflict with a rule in the 33CFR, he should immediately request a conference for clarification with the Program Manager.

B. Except as provided by particular bridge opening schedules, drawbridges shall be opened promptly and fully for the passage of vessels when a request to open has been given in accordance with signaling procedures established herein. Under no circumstances is the bridge operator to question the vessel operator as to his right for a bridge opening based on the height of the vessel. If a bridge operator is required to open a bridge for a vessel because of a nonstructural fixture on that vessel, which in his opinion, is not essential to navigation or which is easily lowered, he is to complete the Bridge Operator's Report on Unnecessary Bridge Opening and submit it to his supervisor and to the Program Manager.

C. The Department may obtain permission from the U.S. Coast Guard to temporarily alter the schedule or obtain permission to temporarily close the bridge. When permission is obtained, the Department will inform the Contractor and the Contractor and the bridge operator are required to comply with the temporary conditions.

D. During Civil Defense emergencies or under certain weather conditions, the Department may issue orders to the Contractor or the bridge operators to open or close the bridge contrary to the schedule. The Contractor and the bridge operators are required to comply with these emergency orders.

B. Authorities desiring to temporarily cease or restrict drawbridge openings due to the arrival of a disaster must obtain authorization from:

· Fort Street Bridge - Ninth Coast Guard District, Bridge Management Specialist Lee D. Soule via e-mail at Lee.D.Soule@uscg.mil or via phone at (216) 902-6085 during regular business hours, Monday through Friday. At all other times call the Duty Officer at Coast Guard Sector Detroit (313) 568-9524.

· Bicentennial and Blossomland Bridges - The Duty Officer may be contacted at (269) 983-6114, or the Chief at (216) 902-6085.

These contacts will relay the request and furnish a response within minutes. Temporary closures are approved on a case by case basis. Specific regulations may exist for certain bridges which require opening a signal during periods of storm warning or alerts.

C. High winds or ice or snow loads may make a drawbridge inoperable or subject it to damage. Drawbridges are authorized to remain closed while experiencing steady winds, ice, or snow loads if the Department has determined that closure is required to prevent damage to the bridge. Requests to close drawbridges to prevent damage will be considered by the Coast Guard. Such requests will be made by the Department to the Coast Guard.

Please refer to 33CFR117.15 for more information on Signaling.

1. The operator of each vessel requesting a drawbridge to open shall signal the bridge operator and the bridge operator shall acknowledge that signal. The vessel operator shall repeat the signal until the bridge operator has acknowledged in some manner.

2. The authorized signal devices and order of preference to be used to request an opening and to acknowledge a request shall be:

Whatever signals are used they must be sufficient to alert the person being signaled.

3. All acknowledging signals given by the bridge operators shall follow the requesting signal by no more than 30 seconds.

4. Vessel Signals for Bridge Opening Request (Communication by Radiotelephone)

2. The Coast Guard has received complaints concerning the failure of vessels to answer calls from other vessels on Channel 16 VHF-FM. Incidents of failure to respond on Channel 16 involving safety communications should be reported to the nearest Coast Guard Marine Safety Office.

3. FCC Regulations prohibit radio checks with the Coast Guard on Channel 16 VHF-FM, except when conducted by FCC representatives, qualified radio technicians installing or repairing equipment, or when requested by the Coast Guard.

2. Voice radio bridge-to-bridge communication between vessels is an effective aid in the prevention of collision where there is restricted maneuvering room and/or visibility. This channel should be monitored by small craft and recreational vessels to determine the intentions of larger vessels.

3. The use of bridge-to-bridge voice communication in no way alters the obligation to comply with the provisions of the Navigation Rules, International-Inland. Additional information may be found in the Navigation Rules, International-Inland (COMDTINST 16672.B).

D. Improper Use of the Radiotelephone Improper use of a radiotelephone is a criminal offense. The use of obscene, indecent or profane language during radio communication is punishable by a $10,000 fine, imprisonment for two years or both.

2. Sound signals shall be made by whistle, horn, megaphone, hailer or other devices capable of producing the described signals loud enough to be heard by the bridge operator. "Prolonged blast" means a blast of four to six seconds duration and "short blast" means a blast of approximately one second duration. The sound signal to request the opening of a bridge is one prolonged blast followed by one short blast sounded not more than three seconds after the prolonged blast. For vessels requiring to be passed through a bridge during a scheduled closure period, the sound signal to request the opening of the bridge during that period is five short blasts sounded in rapid succession.

2. When the draw cannot be opened immediately, or is open and must be closed promptly, the visual signal to acknowledge a request to open the bridge is one of the following:

3. The acknowledging signal when the bridge cannot open immediately or is open and must be closed promptly shall be repeated until acknowledged in some manner by the requesting vessel. If the vessel does not continue its approach, this can be interpreted by the bridge operator as his acknowledgment as the bridge operator can stop his signal.

4. On bridges equipped with marine light signals an appropriate light configuration might be a flashing amber to acknowledge the vessel signal when the bridge can be opened, a flashing green when the bridge is fully open (in addition to the required lift span green lights), and a flashing red light when the draw cannot be opened or must be immediately closed.

VII. GENERAL INSTRUCTIONS

2. The bridge operator shall not permit any person to operate the bridge except assigned and properly trained bridge operators or persons in training to become a bridge operator. Such trainees should never be left alone to operate the bridge. Not more than two (2) persons in addition to the bridge operator may be in the bridge house at any given time for the purpose of training except for initial training.

3. The bridge operator must remain on duty until relieved by a qualified bridge operator. The bridge operator shall not turn the bridge over to a person in an aberrant state of mind or to a person who is under the influence of drugs or alcohol. Personal safety is of paramount concern to the Department. The bridge operator must employ his own judgment in considering whether or not to abandon the bridge house when he feels his personal safety is in jeopardy. Careful consideration and good judgment is required however, since abandonment of a bridge house is a serious matter to the Department and to the Federal Government. The bridge operator may be called upon to justify his abandonment, and discipline by the Contractor and prosecution by the State and Federal Government may follow.

4. The bridge operator will maintain a current record or log, on forms approved by the Program Manager, of the following:

5. The bridge operator shall report any failure, disorder or breakage which will, in any way, affect the efficient operation of the bridge, its fender system, safety devices or other appurtenances, to his supervisor immediately. The bridge operator's report should, whenever possible, include full information as to what repairs or replacements can be made without delay.

6. The bridge operator will not go to sleep while on duty. Any bridge operator who does not remain alert and watchful at all times may be subject to discipline by the Contractor and prosecution by the State and the Federal Government.

7. The bridge operator shall not engage in private business while on duty.

8. The bridge operator shall not have any unnecessary conversation with boaters.

9. The bridge operator is not permitted to have any appliances or furniture in the bridge house without prior approval from the Program Manager.

10. The bridge operator shall not fish at the bridge or store fishing equipment in the operator house. No one is permitted to fish from the draw span or the bridge fender system or in any way by their presence hinder the operation of the draw bridge. The bridge operator should use reasonable control efforts and prudence to discourage this. The bridge operator shall contact local police for assistance when reasonable control efforts fail.

11. Boats are not permitted to be tied or moored to the bridge fender system. Small craft shall not be allowed to anchor or moor to the bridge. The bridge operator shall contact local police for assistance when reasonable control efforts fail.

12. No pets are allowed in the bridge operator house.

13. It is the responsibility of all bridge operators on duty to check all navigation lights each day. He/she is to make a note in the Bridge Operator's Log as to the results of this check and immediately report to his/her supervisor any malfunctioning lights.

14. When authorized by the Program Manager, the bridge operator may operate the bridge for authorized personnel.

15. The Department’s maintenance personnel may request test openings or may operate the bridges.

2. No alcoholic beverages or illegal drugs may be brought into the bridge operator houses. The bridge operator shall not report to work under the influence of alcohol or illegal drugs and shall not consume alcohol or use illegal drugs while on duty. Bridge operators that fail to comply shall be subject to immediate dismissal by the Contractor.

3. The bridge operator shall wear appropriate approved attire for his position.

2. Vehicular, Pedestrian or Bicyclist Accident Reports - Immediately after a bridge/ vehicle / pedestrian/ bicyclist accident occurs, the bridge operator shall call his supervisor and report the accident and its apparent seriousness. As soon as possible thereafter, the bridge operator shall submit a full report to his supervisor as appropriate.

3. The bridge operator shall not discuss details of any accident, vessel or vehicular, with anyone other than the Contractor, officials of the Department, law enforcement officers or properly identified representatives of the Department's insurance company.

2. Bridge operators are not to comply with any request to raise the bridge they are operating for the purpose of forming a roadblock. Any such request should be referred to his supervisor.

E. Encroachment The bridge operator will promptly report to his supervisor any trespass on the Department's right-of-way within the vicinity of the bridge for activities, such as: erection of buildings, cutting timber, removing sand or other material, digging ditches, using the banks of the waterway as loading points where the use is clearly of commercial nature.

F. Safety

1. The bridge operator is expected to conduct himself in a manner that is safe for himself, others and property. The Contractor and the bridge operator are responsible to comply with Federal Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSHA) rules and Michigan Occupational Safety Rules (MIOSHA).

2. Life jacket must be worn any time the bridge operator or other contract personnel are in an area where they are exposed to falling in the water and as defined by OSHA and MIOSHA. Life jackets shall be securely fastened when they are being worn.

3. Any water standing around electrical switchgear will be mopped dry and a rubber floor mat put in place before electrical gear is operated.

2. Battery - operated lights shall be kept in readiness at all times and must be placed in their proper place for use when electrical power fails.

B. The bridge operator is responsible to inform the Project Manager upon a mechanical malfunction or of any event that may have jeopardized the structural integrity of the bridges.

C. The bridge operator is to cooperate fully with Department personnel with the personal safety of himself and all members of the Department of utmost priority. Good clear communication is vital while Department personnel are on the site.

D. If any member of the Department or anyone else is in the machinery section of the bridge, notification of a bridge span movement is absolutely necessary. The machinery room is located in front of the counterweight for the bridges and moves as the bridge goes up or down. If available, two way radios will be used for this purpose. If radios are not available, any other means of communication agreed upon at the site may be employed.

E. If the bridge operator has any doubts as to whether the communication is fully understood, he should not proceed with any movement of the bridge span.

F. Maintenance personnel may give the bridge operator instructions that seem counter to the instructions given in this manual. The bridge operator is to comply with the crew leader's instructions and make a note in his Bridge Maintenance Log to that effect. If the bridge operator cannot comply with the maintenance personnel’s instructions, he is to call the Project Manager immediately for assistance.

IX. INSTRUCTIONS AND GUIDES FOR COMPLETE FORMS

A. All entries are to be printed or typed in vertical lettering in capital letters, no script.

B. Days of the week, if abbreviated, shall be MON, TUES, WED, THUR, FRI, SAT, AND SUN.

C. Months, if abbreviated, shall be the standard three letter abbreviation.

D. Numbers shall be shown in Arabic numerals, i.e.: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 and 0.

E. Never use ditto marks.

F. Enter "PM" or "AM" clearly as required.

G. When showing direction indicate the direction the vessel or vehicle is going.

I. When signing in or out for duty, the bridge operator is to sign his/her name on the required form, showing day of the week, date and time of sign in.

B. The Contractor’s employees shall wear approved attire and carry picture identification tags at all times while on Department property.

RFP 260000002219 – Movable Bridges Operational and Custodial Services 1 image1.png