So, you say that you've been doing "live" shots for over fifteen years without an accident.  You say that accidents happen to "the other guy."  You say that the ENG/SNG staff at your station are "fully trained".  Well, let's just see about that, shall we?  Below is a little ENG/SNG safety quiz.  You should print it out, make copies of it for your staff (ENG/SNG truck operators & engineers, assignment desk staff, videographers, etc.).  Give them each a day or two to answer ALL the questions on their own.  Then, go over their answers.  We think you'll be surprised at how many were wrong!  You'll be surprised at how many you don't know!

1)    Explain the following:
        A)    Vehicle travel height:__________________________________________________________________________________
                                             __________________________________________________________________________________
                                             __________________________________________________________________________________
        B)    Vehicle absolute height:_______________________________________________________________________________
                                                  _______________________________________________________________________________
                                                  _______________________________________________________________________________
 

2)    Honestly, when was the last time your staff practiced exiting an ENG/SNG vehicle that was in contact with high voltage lines?
        A)    Within the past six months.
        B)    Within the past year.
        C)    When we first got the truck(s).
        D)    Yeah, right! Like we REALLY have time to practice that!
 

3)    This is a two part question:
        A)    What is the GVWR of your ENG/SNG vehicle?  ___________________________________________________________
        B)    Where are the medical certificates kept, for your station, for drivers of ENG/SNG vehicles weighing over 10,000 pounds?
        _______________________________________________________________________________________________________
 

4)    Who, on the remote crew, should watch the mast/dish deploy?
        A)    The truck operator/engineer.
        B)    The reporter.
        C)    The videographer.
        D)    The audio technician.
        E)    Whoever is available at the moment.
        F)     A, B, C, & D.
 

5)    In 2000, what month saw the most accidents involving ENG/SNG vehicles?
        A)    August
        B)    February
        C)    May
        D)    June
        E)    December
        F)    October
 

6)    What is the minimum safe clearance from 50,000 volt power lines?
        A)    2.9 feet.
        B)    10 feet
        C)    6.3 feet
        D)    41 feet
        E)    12 feet
        F)    600 Ohms.
 

7)    What is the minimum safe clearance from a 400,000 volt power line?
        A)    Eight times the answer in question # 6.
        B)    Four times the answer in question #6.
        C)    21.6666 feet
        D)    30 feet
        E)    50 feet
        F)    47 Amps.
 

8)    Who has the last clear chance to operate the ENG/SNG truck well, legally, and avoid hazards?
        A)    The producer.
        B)    The assignment desk.
        C)    The truck operator/engineer.
        D)    The location security guard.
        E)    The on camera talent.
        F)    The chief engineer.
 

9)    Who determines when the mast should come down if lightning is present?
        A)    The assignment desk.
        B)    The location talent.
        C)    The producer.
        D)    The truck operator/engineer.
        E)    The chief engineer.
        F)    The National Weather Service.
 

10)    How many of your stations' ENG/SNG vehicles are equipped with cellular headsets dedicated for driver use?
        A)    Our newest truck has it.
        B)    All of them.
        C)    We can't be wasting our time with headsets.
        D)    We don't have cellular phones in our trucks.
        E)    Why should we invest in headsets?
 

11)    How often is a truck/location safety discussion or training class held for ALL of the field crews?
        A)    I think we had one just last summer, but I was too busy to attend.
        B)    The day shift was trained but, the night shift wasn't.
        C)    When we got our first truck.
        D)    Safety training?
        E)    I got a FULL 20 minutes of training when I was assigned to the ENG/SNG truck 6 years ago.
        F)    We have a great safety record, we don't need safety training.
 

12)    When was the last time your assignment desk staff went out with an ENG/SNG truck to see what live is like in the real world?
        A)    Our assignment staff goes out every other month (but only if the weather is good).
        B)    We don't have time for this.  We have news to produce.
        C)    Our assignment desk staff are professionals.  They know what it's like out there.
        D)    We send out our assignment staff one full 9 hour shift per month regardless of what the weather is like.
        E)    Never.
 

13)    Is CPR & first aid training mandatory for all ENG/SNG crews?  If not, why not? ______________________________________
        _______________________________________________________________________________________________________
 

14)    When was the last time you had CPR & first aid training?
        A)    Within the last six months.
        B)    Within the past year.
        C)    Mine just expired.
        D)    Gee, I got that training back when I was in the military.
        E)    Right after I got hired on here....12 years ago.
        F)    Do I need to have CPR & first aid training?
 

15)    What do your field crews use to reduce 'trip' hazards?
        A)    Gaffers tape, of course.
        B)    Yellow Jackets
        C)    Rubber mats.
        D)    Whatever we can find lying around.
        E)    A & C.
        F)    Traffic cones and or signs.
 

16)    Describe your daily vehicle checklist:________________________________________________________________________
        _______________________________________________________________________________________________________
        _______________________________________________________________________________________________________
        _______________________________________________________________________________________________________
 

17)    When was the last time first aid kits and fire extinguishers, in the trucks, were serviced?
        A)    We check them every six months.
        B)    We check them annually.
        C)    Um, I better go check them right now.
        D)    We don't have fire extinguishers and first aid kits in the trucks, smart guy!
        E)    We get new ones every five years, so we don't have to check them.
 

18)    Here's a REALLY easy question for you:  Write down the name and phone extension of your station safety officer(s):
        _______________________________________________________________________________________________________
        _______________________________________________________________________________________________________
 

19)    Why should I be concerned about lightning while on an ENG/SNG live shot?
        A)    Lightning could damage the equipment.
        B)    It can interfere with location audio.
        C)    It could travel down the mast & through the cables and could possibly hurt someone.
        D)    It could really screw up the signal path.
        E)    B & C.
        F)    All of the above but, mostly C.
 

20)    Indicate the title, part(s), sub-part(s) and paragraph(s) from your state safety regulations that apply to ENG/SNG truck safety?
        (Not sure, find out. NOW!) _________________________________________________________________________________
        _______________________________________________________________________________________________________
        _______________________________________________________________________________________________________