Poor Weather Policy

Last Updated on Tuesday, 09 February 2010 08:34

AACS/GRITS Transportation's first concern is always for the safety of its clients, employees and the public in general. While every effort is to be made to operate GRITS' vehicles to accomodate our client's transportation needs, inclement weather conditions may cause operation of our vehicles to be unsafe. Keeping in mind that life sustaining trips must be performed (dialysis, wound care, radiation therapy, chemotherapy, surgeries) we will use whatever means necessary to provide transportation to these clients, including utilization of 4-wheel drive vehicles in GRITS's fleet and if necessary, working with the National Guard for the purpose of life sustaining trip performance.

The following procedures will go into effect when poor weather conditions (primarily ice and snow events, but possibly floods and other severe weather) are predicted for our service areas.

All rides are not cancelled if schools are closed, however, cancellation of school classes in a service area will be a good indicator of service issues in that particular service area. When weather conditions occur the following inclement weather policies are to take effect:

1. Dispatchers will report to the GRITS offices by 6:00 AM.
2. Dispatchers will begin calling facilities to determine if they are in operation for the day.
3. Drivers will determine what the travel situation is in their county and whether or not travel presents a safety risk to clients, themselves or other persons. If the driver needs guidance in the decision, they should contact either the Transportation Director, Assistant Directors or dispatch office for further information. Once the driver has made the determination that transportation can proceed or not, the following steps must take place.
   
   1. If the driver arrives at a residence or facility and feels that conditions at that facility or residence present a hazard for the client or driver, the driver should not transport the client unless the transportation is for life sustaining treatment. If the trips are not for life-sustaining treatment, the driver must contact the client and relate the facts concerning the condition of the facility or the residence and the risk the conditions present and inform the client that transportation cannot be provided. If the trip is for life-sustaining treatment, and the driver feels that conditions at the residence or facility present a risk, dispatch should be contacted immediately to provide assistance.
   2. Drivers will review their copy of the manifest to determine which clients are scheduled for life-sustaining trips. The driver will work with dispatch to coordinate the transportation of these life-sustaining trip clients, keeping in mind the extra time that each trip will involve due to the adverse weather conditions.
   3. Drivers should keep in mind which clients travel is directly related to the school system.
   4. Client phone numbers are printed on the manifest for drivers' use in notifying clients of delayed pick up or questions related to whether a client is going or not.
   5. Drivers will contact dispatch as soon as possible to determine which facilities are open for the day and which ones are closed. Drivers will then use their copy of the manifest to contact clients to determine if they intend to ride that day. Drivers will then contact dispatch again to alert dispatch as to who is cancelling for the day.
   6. Drivers will alert dispatch if extra time is needed and scheduled pick-ups and drop-offs will not occur as shown on the manifest. Drivers are responsible for notifying dispatch on current status of clients.
   7. If road conditions improve during the day, drivers will return to their normal scheduled to the greatest extent possible.