KNOW YOUR EQUIPMENT
TRAINING NOTEBOOK
In April of last year the Brighton (Ml) Fire Department held a training drill. It was a practical exercise of laying supply hose from a water source to a fire scene and then handstretching attack hose to a simulated fire.
The class was split into two groups, with each going to a different location in town. Each was to begin the exercise immediately on arrival at its assigned location. The groups were supervised by several officers and instructors.
One of the two groups was to use an aerial platform/pumper with a 5-inch hose for supply and 1 1/2-inch preconnect for attack. As planned, half of this group began the first evolution by properly wrapping a hydrant with 5-inch supply hose so the vehicle could proceed to the fire scene laying tutt hose as it moved forward. The other half of the group was to observe the operation.
As the hose played out while the truck proceeded slowly toward the fire scene, a hose coupling caught on an edge at the rear of the truck The hose quickly tightened like a rubber band between the truck and the hy -drant The lashing hose struck the two firefighters at the hydrant. One of the two, who weighed 180 lbs., was flipped head-over-heels by the springing hose. Fortunately, he was uninjured. The other firefighter, who was hit by the last hose butt, sustained a fractured ankle. They both received immediate medical attention.
(All photos by author.)
The investigation revealed that the hose chute extension on the apparatus had not been pulled out as required.
The apparatus has a hose compartment that requires the hose to travel through a 10-by-10-inch-square chute approximately 10 feet long that allows the hose to exit the rear of the truck. However, to avoid the couplings from catching on the edges of the steps to the turntable, the rearmost end of the chute has a slide-out extension. The extension fits inside the chute and slides out about 24 inches, enough for the hose to play out without catching on any edges or protrusions. When extended, the chute looks like a quick-dump water chute on some tankers.
In our accident, the failure of the firefighter pulling the hose to slide the chute out first went unnoticed. The instructor was busy leading others through the proper hydrant wrap, the supervising officer was watching many different parts of the operation, and another officer and 1 (the chief) had turned to address the half of the group observing the exercise.
The hose has been pulled from the chute and wrapped around the hydrant by hand, and the driver had been signaled to proceed. The very next hose butt caught on the edge of the stairway to the turntable, causing the accident. Fortunately, the driver was moving the vehicle slowly or injuries might have been worse.
LESSONS LEARNED AND REINFORCED
We learned several lessons from this accident and hope others with similar equipment can learn from our error.
- Don’t take shortcuts—use all equipment as it is designed to be used.
- If you have special equipment, you need special training.
- Use passive safety devices when possible. After the accident we realized that it could happen again if every firefighter didn’t remember to pull out the sliding chute. We made a sign on the plastic flap covering the hose butt that says “Chute Must Be Pulled Out.” The flap must be lifted out of the way even before you can sec the butt. We also tied a small rope onto the hose butt and chute handle. When the butt is pulled out the chute will move outward at the same time, reminding the firefighter of the sliding chute.
- Move vehicles slowly when laying hose.
- Even the basics require constant training.
- If you find a flaw, share it with others.
- Some accidents happen so fast there is no time to react.
By the time conditions leading to the injun were observed and as fast as the officer could yell “Stop!” the accident had already happened. Even though none of the officers or instructors was designated as safety officer, the outcome probably would have been the same if there had been one. Four officers and instructors and 12 students did not realize the error. The passive reminders, however, should prevent it from happening again
