Upper Leacock Fire Company

SOG's


 

 

Section 16    Fire Police Guidelines
 

1.    The Upper Leacock Township Fire Police Standard Operating Guideline is a separate manual that was designed specifically for designated Fire Police and Special Fire Police acting under the authority of Bareville and Upper Leacock Fire Companies. The Fire Police Captain is required to issue all new designated Fire Police Members with a copy of this manual.

2.    The Upper Leacock Township Fire Police Standard Operating Guideline manual contains the following; Rules and regulations, Emergency response guideline, Guidelines for using the Fire Police Unit (Traffic 3-11), Fire Police dress uniform guideline, Blue warning light policy, Pennsylvania vehicle code laws concerning emergency vehicle and Act of 1941 P.I. 137, NO. 74 Concerning Special Police, Upper Leacock Township Fire Police acknowledgement form, Misc. Fire Police information and additions. Although this manual was designed for Upper Leacock Township Fire Police and Special Fire Police it also has some important information that pertains to all Fire Company Members that may serve in the capacity of a reserve or back up Fire Police Member for Upper Leacock Fire Company.

3.    This section of the Upper Leacock Fire Company Standard Operating Guideline Manual contains the important information taken from the Upper Leacock Township Fire Police Standard Operating Guideline Manual that pertains to all Fire Company Members that serve in the capacity of a reserve or back up Fire Police Member. The sections taken from the Upper Leacock Township Fire Police Standard Operating Guideline Manual for the Upper Leacock Fire Company Standard Operating Guideline Manual include; Rules and regulations, Emergency response guideline, Guidelines for using the Fire Police Unit (Traffic 3-11), Guidelines for equipment issued to Fire Police dress uniform guideline.

4.    Any Fire Company Member who wishes to review the complete Upper Leacock Township Fire Police Manual may review a copy stored in the Fire Company Office or above the sign in the desk in the engine bays.

 

1.    UNIFORM SHIRT - will consist of a Southwestern brand light blue shirt with dark blue epaulets & dark blue pocket flaps

2.    UNIFORM PANTS - will consist of Navy blue trousers, with a 3/4-inch light blue nylon braid for trouser striping.

3.    UNIFORM TIE - WILL CONSIST OF A PLAIN Navy blue colored Velcro or clip on tie.

4.    UNIFORM SOCKS - will consist of plain Navy blue dress socks

5.    UNIFORM SHOES - will consist of black colored dress shoes or boots. Black colored sneakers are not permitted.

6.    UNIFORM COLLAR PINS - will consist of small silver colored Pennsylvania State seal pins for regular Fire Police. The Fire Police Captain will wear gold colored Captain Bars. The Fire Police Lieutenants will wear silver colored Lieutenant bars.

7.    UNIFORM NAME PLATE - will consist of a two line, chrome colored nameplate for regular Fire Police. It shall display the Pennsylvania colored State seal, and the Fire Police member's name at the top with the rank of Fire Police listed below the name. The Fire Police Captains name plate will be a two line, gold colored name plate it shall display the Pennsylvania colored State seal, and the Fire Police Captains name at the top, with the rank of Fire Police Captain listed below the name. The Fire Police Lieutenants nameplate will be a two line, chrome colored nameplate. It shall display the Pennsylvania colored State seal and the Fire Police Lieutenants name at the top with the rank of Fire Police Lieutenant listed below the name.

8.    UNIFORM BADGE - will consist of a Blackington brand, chrome colored bade, which displays the Pennsylvania colored State seal, the rank of Fire Police, and Upper Leacock Twp. Lettering on it for regular Fire Police. The Fire Police Captain shall display a Blackington brand; gold colored badge, which displays the Pennsylvania, colored State seal, the rank of Fire Police Captain, and Upper Leacock Twp. Lettering on it. Fire Police Lieutenants shall display a two-tone gold/ chrome colored Blackington brand badge, which displays the Pennsylvania colored State seal, the rank of Fire Police Lieutenant, and Upper Leacock Twp. Lettering on it.

9.    UNIFORM HAT- will consist of a white colored 8-point service cap, which displays a large silver colored Pennsylvania State seal hat badge for Fire Police, and Fire Police Lieutenants. The Fie Police Captain would have the same hat with a large gold colored Pennsylvania State seal hat badge in the center.

10. UNIFORM PATCHES - will consist of the design located on the cover to this guideline manual and will be    displayed on BOTH sleeves to the uniform dress shirt. Patches may also be displayed on the fluorescent green safety vests, winter jacket (BOTH sleeves), and fluorescent orange winter jumpsuit (BOTH sleeves)

PURCHASE INFO - These uniforms can be purchased at Pro Look Uniforms, 429 Rohrerstown Road, Lancaster, Pa. Across from the Rohrerstown Fire Company. They have your exact uniform on file. Note their phone number is 394-4043.

 

1.    Under NO circumstance should any Fire Police Member place himself or herself on duty for any reason, by order of the Upper Leacock Township Board of Supervisors.

2.    You assume ALL liability upon yourself in the event that you assist someone acting in the capacity as a Good Samaritan to an incident that you may have come across in your travels.

3.    Fire Police Members can only be called to duty by Lancaster County Wide Communications, Upper Leacock Township Supervisors, Fire Chief, or the Police Department.

4.    NO one under the age of 18 years old may be approved and serve as a Fire Police Member.

5.    Procedure for becoming a member of the Upper Leacock Township Fire Police Association;

6.    Chain of Command for Fire Police Members

7.    The Fire Chief is in TOTAL control of the Fire Police Association at all times UNLESS a Police Officer requests a Fire Police response in which the Fire Company was not requested. Under this circumstance you would be under the control of the senior ranking Police Officer.

8.    The position of Fire Police Captain and Fire Police Lieutenant are appointed by the Fire Chiefs at Bareville and Upper Leacock Fire Companies each calendar year and serve a one-year term effective Jan 1 of each calendar year.

9.    Under NO circumstance is any Fire Police Member permitted to release any information to members of the Media or public at the scene of a fire call.

10.    Under NO circumstance is any Fire Police Member permitted to personally except any financial funds for services rendered during the performance of their duties. Circumstances may arise when the funds may be excepted during special function when you are acting as a Special Fire Police Member and approval was given and outlined by the Upper Leacock Township Board of Supervisors.

11.    Under NO circumstance is any Fire Police member permitted to open any private account for funding for the Upper Leacock Fire Police Association. Funding for your organization is through the Fireman's Relief Association

12.    All Fire Police Members should act in a courteous and professional manner at all times when dealing with the public during the performance of your duties.

13.    Avoid unnecessary personal conversations on the Fire Police radio. All communications should be short and professional at all times.

14.    All newly sworn in Fire Police Members will take the first available Basic Fire Police course. Exception - Fire Company Members are not required to complete the Basic Fire Police course if they are with the Bareville or Upper Leacock Fire Company and wish to be sworn in as a back up/reserve Fire Police Member. A backup/ reserve Fire Police Member is described as any Fire Company Member who wishes to serve his or her Fire Company during an emergency or special event when his or her Fire Company is short handed with regular Active Fire Police. In the event you are only filling in as a backup/reserve Fire Police Member you would only be required to maintain some type of documented in house Fire Police training. It is strongly recommended that you take the Basic Fire Police course, but it is NOT required. In house training should consist of Fire Police material covered in the Basic Fire Police Handbook.

15.    New Fire Police Trainees may be assigned with another Senior Fire Police Member for a period of time to be determined by the Fire Chiefs or Fire Police Captain.

16.    All Fire Police Members are encouraged to take one class a year to keep up on the rules and regulations, and legal concepts that apply to Fire Police in the State of Pennsylvania.

17.    All Fire Police Members are required to hold a current certification in Hazardous Material Awareness Level training as required by Federal Law.

18.    A copy of ALL training certificates will be given to the Fie Police Captain for Fire Company records upon completion of any training course.

19.    Changes in this policy manual may only be done by the Fire Chiefs from Bareville and Upper Leacock Fire Companies and the Fire Police Captain. Any changes made by the Fire Police Captain must be approved by the Fire Chiefs from both Companies prior to being implemented.

20.    No obscene language shall be used by any Fire Police Member while in the performance of their duties for any reason.

21.    Fire Police Members should not respond to fire calls or perform any Fire Police duties while under the influence of alcohol or any controlled substance.

22.    Fire Police Members are NOT permitted to carry any weapons when performing their Fire Police duties such as but not limited to; firearms, nightsticks. Batons, etc. Handcuffs are NOT permitted to be carried or used to detain anyone for any reason.

23.    Fire Police Members are NOT permitted to use ANY physical force against ANYONE while performing their duties UNLESS they are personally under physical attack and are acting in self-defense OR a bystander is under physical attack, which could result in serious bodily injury or death to that person if you do not act. Physical Force may also be used during a breach in peace situation where no Police Officer is present at the scene. An example of this would be if a civilian was trying to destroy evidence at a crime scene you were ordered to preserve or if someone was refusing to leave an emergency scene and it was necessary to remove him or her for their own safety. REMEMBER that physical forces should only be used as a LAST RESORT. Keep in mind that you may be a target for civil or legal action if you use physical force against someone out of your scope of power or injuries were sustained by the person you used force against. REVIEW ALL PA. CRIMES CODE LAWS CONCERNING USE OF FORCE LAWS OUTLINED IN CHAPTERS 9 OF THIS MANUAL.

24.    In the event that a Fire Police Member encounters ANY trouble with a civilian, bystander, or other Fire Police Member during his performance of his duties the following steps should be followed;

25.    Fire Police Members may NOT issue traffic citations. Fire Police have limited powers of arrest and may use them when NECESSARY, when a regular Police Agency is not available and an arrest MUST be made the Fire Police May do so under these conditions;

26.    In the event that a civilian, bystander, or etc. commits any criminal act that warrants charges, but not an immediate arrest as outlined above should follow these steps;

27.    ALL Fire Police Members are REQUIRED to wear their fluorescent green colored safety vest as the outer most garment with the Badge of Authority attached to the vest at ALL times at the scene of an emergency call OR while directing traffic n the roadway during ANY Fire Company event (includes fund raising events and special Fire Police assignments). Fire Police are also required to wear their orange fire helmet or fluorescent orange colored baseball cap during emergency calls. The white colored eight-point dress hat is permitted during fundraising events and Special Fire Police assignments.

28.    The flashlight with the attached red cone, emergency road flares, and 36 inch orange safety traffic cones should be used during all night operations while performing your Fire Police Duties. The flares and traffic cones should be placed in the center of the roadway during night operations when you are on the roadway directing traffic. These items should be placed a minimum of 500 feet prior to where you are directing traffic. Flares should not be used if there is any type of hazard present such as a car leaking fluids at an accident scene.

29.    Fire Police are not permitted to smoke at an emergency scene where there are hazards such as leaking fluids from a car at an accident.

30.    The following protocol will be followed when using the Fire Police barricades to close a road during ANY fire call or Fire Company event;

31.    The following protocol will be followed when Fire Police are running one lane of traffic around the scene of a fire call or other Fire Company event;

32.    Any Fire Police Member that sustains an injury during ANY Fire Company event is required to immediately notify the Fire Police Captain and Fire Chief. In the event that the Fire Police Member is not able to make the immediate notifications, the Senior most ranking Fire Police Member should make the notifications for the injured Fire Police Member.

33.    Any Fire Police Member that is not able to perform his or her duties due to illness, permanent or temporary disability, injury, use of prescribed medications, or other reason not mentioned, is required to make immediate notification to the Fire Police Captain and Fire Chief.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Please follow the diagram when an Incident requires one traffic lane to be open. Red traffic cones should be used at all times surrounding the Incident and a Fire Police member should be at the start and end of the area where the traffic cones are set up. Flares should also be used by night. Remember your safety! Use your protective gear, while directing traffic on a highway.

 

1.    Members from Upper Leacock Fire Company and Bareville Fire Company formed a committee in the year 2001 to pursue the possibility of purchasing the 1989 Fore Econoline ambulance from the Leola Ambulance Association. This unit was to be transformed into a Traffic Unit that could store traffic control equipment to be shared by both Fire Companies.

2.    In June of 2002 the ambulance was purchased from the Leola Ambulance Association. Funding for this new unit was made possible through the Ressler Mille Foundation who donated $18,000 for the purchase of the unit, re-painting and re-striping of the unit. The committee placed the new Traffic Unit into service for operation in July 2002. The Traffic Unit Committee Members consisted of, Darryl Howe, Keith McQuate from Bareville Fire Company, Wendell Metzler, Dale Martin from Upper Leacock Fire Company, and Jim Beckett, and Dean Gross as Upper Leacock Township Fire Police representatives.

3.    It was agreed upon that the new Traffic Unit would be designated as TRAFFIC 3-11 and that it would be housed and stored at Upper Leacock Fire Company. Traffic 3-11 will be licensed and insured through Upper Leacock Fire Company. All additional equipment purchases and repairs of damaged equipment stored on the Traffic Unit shall be funded through the Fire Police budget. All mechanical repairs, maintenance costs, state inspections, and operating costs such as registration and insurance fees SHALL be funded as follows: Upper Leacock Fire Company will pay all the expenses upfront and will submit a bill for payment for the above mentioned items to the Bareville Fire Company at the end of each calendar year no later than December 31, Bareville Fire Company has agreed to help share the costs mentioned above based on the percentage of their use of the Traffic Unit. For example: if the Traffic Unit was used 100 times within one calendar year and Bareville Fire Company used the Traffic Unit 20 times within one calendar year, they would be expected to pay 20% of the above mentioned costs. Bareville Fire Company SHALL NOT be billed for any fee's pertaining to the rental property owned by the War Memorial where the Traffic Unit is housed. Each individual Fire Company is REQUIRED to pay the insurance deductible anytime that one of their Fire Company Members is involved in an accident with the Traffic Unit, in which they were the driver and a claim is submitted to the insurance company for repair. For example: if a member of Upper Leacock Fire Company is driving the Traffic Unit and is involved in an accident, Upper Leacock Fire Company would be responsible for the $1,000 deductible when the claim is submitted to the insurance company for repair.

4.    Upper Leacock Fire Company and Bareville Fire Company SHALL have unlimited use of the Traffic Unit at any given time for emergencies, fund raising events, etc.

5.    Traffic 3-11 shall only be staffed with regular Fire Police Members or Reserve/ backup Fire Police Members during an emergency response. Under no circumstance should the Traffic Unit respond without any sworn Fire Police Members aboard the unit during an emergency response. Fire Company Members that are not sworn Fire Police Members are permitted to respond with the Traffic Unit to assist with setting up barricades and such but are not permitted to perform duties of a Fire Police Member UNLESS permission was granted to that member by the Fire Chief at the time of the emergency. No one under the age of 8 years old is permitted to perform the duties of a Fire Police Member under any circumstance. Fire Company Members that are not sworn in as Fire Police Members shall not wear anything on the Traffic Unit that identifies themselves as a Fire Police Member such as a vest, badge, cap, etc. Non-sworn in members should wear their fire gear and orange safety vest on board the \traffic Unit that reads "Fire Company".

6.    Traffic 3-11 is permitted to respond to ALL emergency call in Bareville and Upper Leacock Fire Companies immediate running district regardless if the unit was dispatched for or not. Members from either Fire Company are permitted to staff the Traffic Unit anytime an emergency call for assistance is requested or the Traffic Unit was specifically dispatch to a an emergency scene. Common sense should be used when deciding whether or not the Traffic Unit should respond to an emergency call. Obviously the priority for the Traffic Unit to respond for an automatic alarm is not as great as the need during a vehicle accident or major fire.

7.    Traffic 3-11 is permitted to respond immediately to an emergency call whenever it is staffed by regular Fire Police Members regardless of what other apparatus has already responded. When Traffic 3-11 is staffed by reserve or backup Fire Police Members it is recommended that the unit hold its response until the first due Engine has responded first to an emergency call.

8.    Traffic 3-11 is also permitted to respond without dispatch when Bareville Fire Company or Upper Leacock Fire Company is dispatched to assist one of our neighboring Fire Companies mentioned below;

            Liberty F.C. (station 3-9)

  West Earl F.C. (station 3-13)

            Eden F.C. (station 2-4)

            Farmersville F.C. (station 3-5)

            Witmer F.C. (station 4-10)

            Intercourse F.C. (station 4-1)

            Bird-in-Hand F.C. (station 4-4)

In March 2002 permission for the Traffic Unit to respond into our neighboring jurisdictions was granted upon request from Deputy Fire Chief Wendell L. Metzler by all the Fire Chiefs from each Fire Company listed above.

9.    All emergency lighting and audible sirens SHALL be used if you are responding emergency rate to an emergency call at all times. In the event a Fire Police Member wishes to respond at a normal rate to an emergency call, he or she may elect to drive without the emergency lighting and audible siren activated. This should only be done if you are obeying all Pennsylvania traffic laws, while traveling non-emergency to an emergency call.

10.    When returning from an emergency call or other Fire Company function you are required to fill the Traffic Unit up with diesel fuel at the Upper Leacock Township shed on Newport Road anytime the gas gauge is below 1/2 full or less

11.    Every time that Traffic 3-11 is used by either Fire Company, the driver is required to fill out the Traffic 3-11 usage form completely and place it in the message bin that is affixed to the office door at Station 3-11(see attached copy of form). The crew on board is responsible to see that all equipment sued has been properly placed back in service or restocked, as needed each time the Traffic Unit is used for any reason

12.    Every time that you perform any type of Fire Police duties with the Traffic Unit, you are required to fill out an Upper Leacock Township Fire Police Incident Report and place it in the message bin that is affixed to the office door at Station 3-11. Both the Traffic Unit usage form and Incident Reports are stored on the Traffic Unit and it is the responsibility of the Upper Leacock Township Fire Police Captain to see that those forms are restocked when needed and that all the completed forms are submitted to the proper authority. (see attached copy of report) (this applies to both Fire Companies)

13.    It is the responsibility of the members from Bareville Fire Company and the members form the Upper Leacock Fire Company to utilize the Traffic Unit and the equipment stored on the unit. It shall not be the sole responsibility of the Upper Leacock Township Fire Police to utilize the Traffic Unit and its equipment stored on the unit.

14.    Notification must be made to the Upper Leacock Township Fire Police Captain anytime that the Traffic Unit or the equipment stored on the unit will be used by either Fire company for purposes other then an emergency. It is recommended that this notification be made 10 days in advance of the date that either company needs the Traffic Unit or the equipment stored on the unit whenever possible.

15.    Any member form either Fire company that borrows the Traffic Unit for purposes other then an emergency SHALL sign the unit out and list its location of usage on the DRY ERASER BOARD displayed on the wall to the Traffic Unit bay. Any member form either Fire company that borrows any equipment stored on the Traffic Units for purposes other then an emergency is required to sign the equipment out on the equipment log that is posed on the wall to the Traffic Unit Bay.

16.    The Engineer from Upper Leacock Fire Company is responsible for scheduling maintenance on the Traffic Unit and for the routine monthly vehicle maintenance checklist. The Upper Leacock Township Fire Police Captain is responsible to keep the Traffic Unit clean both inside and out. He or she is also responsible to see that all the equipment stored on the Traffic Unit is in service, kept clean, and in its proper location.

17.    The Engineer form Bareville Fire Company is responsible for driver training of any member from the Bareville Fire company that wishes to become a qualified driver for Traffic 3-11. the Engineer form Upper Leacock Fire Company is responsible for driver training of any member from the Upper Leacock Fire company that wishes to become a qualified driver for Traffic 3-11. Both Engineers from both Fire Companies are responsible to maintain a current qualified driver roster and are required to furnish the Upper Leacock Township Fire Police Captain with a current list anytime that additions or corrections are made to that roster. Only the Fire Chiefs from either Fire Company can officially authorize their respected members to be a qualified driver of Traffic 3-11 after the requirements have been met as outlined on the Upper Leacock Township Fire Police Driver Training Qualification Requirements for Traffic 3-11 form ().

18.    All qualified drivers of Traffic 3-11 are required to be 18 years of age and possess and maintain a valid Pennsylvania drivers license

19.    The Following steps will be followed anytime that the Traffic Unit is involved in an accident;

20.    The following protocol will be followed if a complaint is received from a Fire Company Member or private citizen in regards to any unsafe driving act committed by anyone responsible for driving the Traffic Unit;

21.    The following protocol shall be followed anytime that repairs to the Traffic Unit or equipment stored on the Traffic Unit are needed;

22.    Radio procedures for emergency responses (not that the Fire Radio Response protocol listed below should be adhered to at all times with no exceptions on the Low Band Fire channel 33.56)

Radio Procedure example during an emergency response

RESPONDING:

county from traffic 3-11 (pause and wait for County Dispatch to acknowledge you), we are responding to 129 West Main Street

APPROACHING THE SCENE:

COMMAND 3-11 FROM TRAFFIC 3-11, WE ARE RETURNING AVAILABLE

23.    This guideline was approved for implementation on July 1, 2002 by the Fire Chief from Bareville Fire Company (Chester Hoover) and the Fire Chief from Upper Leacock Fire Company (Larry Miller).

 

GUIDELINES FOR EQUIPMENT ISSUED TO

FIRE POLICE

1.    Fire Company alerting pagers and portable Low Band Radios will be issued to Fire Police Members when they are available or funding can be used to buy additional equipment as needed.

2.    The pagers and portable radios will be maintained, serviced and repaired by funding out of the Fire Police budge UNLESS willful neglect can be proven on be half of a Fire Police Member. If a Fire Police Member willfully damages ANY equipment issued to them, they will be required to repair or replace the damaged equipment at they will be required to repair of any pager or portable radio needs to be reported to the Fire Police Captain and he will make the arrangements for the needed repairs.

3.    ALL Fire Police Members will be issued one Upper Leacock Township Badge of Authority. THE BADGE OF AUTHORITY WILL BE WORN ON THE OUTER MOST GARMENT AT ALL TIMES, No Exceptions!

4.    ALL Fire Police Members will be issued one fluorescent orange colored baseball cap, which will have Upper Leacock Twp. Fire Police lettering on the front of the cap with a colored Pennsylvania State seal also displayed on the front. This is a lightweight cap and is RECOMMENDED for summer use when it's hot.

5.    ALL Fire Police Members will be issued one orange colored fire helmet, which will display the Upper Leacock Twp. Fire Police patch on the front and have Upper Leacock Twp. Fire Police lettering on the side of the helmet. Black adhesive letters may be used to spell the Fire Police Members name on the back of the helmet. Use of this fire helmet is RECOMMENDED in bad weather conditions such as rain, snow, etc. The fire helmet is also RECOMMENDED for use when you are at the scene of a fire or accident which might require a higher level of safety to be used for your protection.

6.    ALL Fire Police Members will be issued a fluorescent green colored safety vest, which will have an Upper Leacock Twp. Fire Police patch affixed to the right side pocket area in the front of the vest. The vest will also have Upper Leacock Twp. Fire Police in black colored letters on the back to the vest. The badge of authority will be worn on the front left side pocket area. THIS VEST WILL BE WORN AT ALL TIMES DURING RESPONSES TO AN EMERGENCY or AT SPECIAL EVENTS WHEN YOU ARE ON THE ROADWAY DIRECTING TRAFFIC.

7.    ALL Fire Police Members will be given a fluorescent orange colored winter jumpsuit, which will display an Upper Leacock Twp. Fire Police patch on both upper sleeves to the jumpsuit. This jumpsuit can be worn at your discretion due to certain weather conditions.

8.    ALL Fire Police Members will be issued several road flares and a flashlight that has a red cone affixed to the end of the light.

9.    ALL Fire Police Members will be issued at least three 36 inch safety orange road cones with reflective collars around the top.

10.    ALL Fire Police Members will be issued a safety 12x12 orange flag or a Stop/Slow paddle sign to be used for directing traffic.

11.    Safety orange colored rain suits and a fluorescent green or orange colored winter jackets MAY be given to ACTIVE Fire Police Members when funding is available.

12.    ALL Fire Police Members will be issued an Upper Leacock Twp. Fire Police license plate for the front of their vehicle.

13.    FIRE POLICE GEAR IS ONLY PERMITTED TO BE WORN WHILE Y9OU ARE ON DUTY.

14.    Upper Leacock Township Fire Police may use no equipment other then what was approved in this policy and was issued. No decals, patches, lettering may be applied to the Fire Police helmets or clothing garments other then what is approved in this policy.

15.    ALL Fire Police Members MUST maintain a 25 % average on fire call attendance for Either Bareville Fire Company has the right to remove or authorize Fire Police equipment to be removed by the Fire Police Captain, when any Fire Police Member does not maintain a 25% average attendance for fire calls UNLESS a circumstance arises in which the Fire Chief has been made ware of and has excused the Fire Police Member from this guideline.

 

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Page last edited: 03/12/06

© Upper Leacock Fire Company 2003