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NIOSH Investigation Report: Kansas
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The NIOSH Fire Fighter Fatality Investigation and Prevention Program has released the investigation report of the line of duty death of a Kansas fire captain who died after being crushed between fire apparatus.
On February 10, 2010, a 69-year-old male Fire Chief (the victim) died after being crushed between a parked tanker and a pumper being backed into the fire station.
The fire fighter reported that he observed the Fire Chief outside of the station as he was backing the pumper into the station. The fire fighter then realized he had backed the pumper too close to the tanker parked inside of the station, pulled forward to reposition the pumper, and then finished backing it into the station.
The fire fighter exited the pumper and yelled for the Chief. The Chief did not respond. When the fire fighter searched for the Chief he found him unconscious and unresponsive on the station floor next to the pump panel of the tanker.
The fire fighter called 911 and started CPR on the Chief. Emergency medical services responded and the Chief was pronounced dead by the coroner at the scene.
Contributing factors identified in the investigation are: inadequate policies for backing apparatus; inadequate facility space for the number of apparatus; and inoperative backup warning system and possibly obscured side view mirror.
The NIOSH report makes the following key recommendations:
The NIOSH Fire Fighter Fatality Investigation and Prevention Program has released the investigation report of the line of duty death of a Kansas fire captain who died after being crushed between fire apparatus.
On February 10, 2010, a 69-year-old male Fire Chief (the victim) died after being crushed between a parked tanker and a pumper being backed into the fire station.
The fire fighter reported that he observed the Fire Chief outside of the station as he was backing the pumper into the station. The fire fighter then realized he had backed the pumper too close to the tanker parked inside of the station, pulled forward to reposition the pumper, and then finished backing it into the station.
The fire fighter exited the pumper and yelled for the Chief. The Chief did not respond. When the fire fighter searched for the Chief he found him unconscious and unresponsive on the station floor next to the pump panel of the tanker.
The fire fighter called 911 and started CPR on the Chief. Emergency medical services responded and the Chief was pronounced dead by the coroner at the scene.
Contributing factors identified in the investigation are: inadequate policies for backing apparatus; inadequate facility space for the number of apparatus; and inoperative backup warning system and possibly obscured side view mirror.
The NIOSH report makes the following key recommendations:
- Ensure that standard operating procedures are developed, implemented, and enforced on safe backing of fire apparatus and include adequate training to ensure fire fighter comprehension.
- Ensure that apparatus storage bays are well lit and have adequate room to store apparatus.
- Implement procedures for inspection, use, and maintenance of safety equipment used to assist in the backing of fire apparatus to ensure the equipment functions properly when needed.
- Ensure that fire apparatus drivers have unobstructed views from their rear view mirrors.
- Consider replacing fire apparatus more than 25 years old.
- Be aware of programs that provide assistance in obtaining alternate funding for replacing or purchasing fire apparatus and equipment and for facility modification.
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by M.J. 6821 on
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We have the same problem at our department with apparatus being packed in so tight at times just to get to your gear you have to go through the office. We have a 1971 pumper that is going to need to be replaced with another pumper but to replace it with something that will fit our needs we need to add on to our firehall and getting funding from our city is almost impossible so we try to raise as much by ourselves that we can.
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