NEAR MISS SAFETY REPORT TRAINING DIVISION NEAR MISS SAFETY REPORT

The purpose of this Near Miss Safety Report is not to place blame, fault or be used for any disciplinary action. The sole purpose of this Near Miss Safety Report is to pass information on to all personnel to insure safety.

HOSE TEST ACCIDENT: Station 20, App 48 April 29, 2006

Synopsis: Engine 20 had connected 2-100 foot lengths and 1-50 foot length of 5 inch hose. Connected to the 4 ½ inch discharge. Line was charged and the air was bleed out. Pressure was raised to 300 psi.

View of Apparatus After the Accident Apparatus Bay 2 100 foot lengths of LDH 1 50 foot length of LDH Damaged 30 degree elbow and coupling

Synopsis (continued): The Engineer had gated the discharge down. The Captain and Firefighter were checking the couplings. The Engineer was at the rear of the engine watching the evolution. The entire crew then heard what sounded like a hose failure.

Damaged Hose:

Synopsis (continued): There appeared to be a hose failure at the discharge. The Engineer shut the rig down. The crew then observed the severity of the damage.

Right Side LDH Discharge Remains of a 30 Degree Elbow Part of the discharge pump access panel was removed by the shop

Both pieces sitting on the Captain side running board

Fractured 30 Degree elbow Both pieces set together

30 Degree elbow Fractured pieces put back together Notice the missing pieces Threaded hole is for the discharge drain

Captains side Bent chrome

Captains side Bent light pole Light pole is bent over and in toward cab Hole in diamond plate was a part removed by the shop, not related to near miss

Captains side Bent diamond plate

Captains side Enough force was applied to the rear of the cab that the Firefighters door will not close all the way. The latch and lock mechanism on the Firefighters door operate normally

TRAINING DIVISION: RECOMENDATIONS

Excerpts from Instruction 55: 5 inch hose shall be tested at 300 psi for five minutes. 5 inch hose can be tested with the Hydrostatic Test Pump or an Engine.

Excerpts from Instruction 55: Provide a continuous flow of water from a reel line. When using an engine use a flow-limiting device, orifice plate.

When Using an Engine to Test Hose: Connect one or more lengths of 2 ½ inch hose to a discharge with an orifice plate installed, then connect 5 inch hose with a 2½ by 4½ inch double female adaptor. Connect no more than 500 feet of LDH hose to the 2 ½ hose.

SEFETY RECOMMENDATIONS: Always wear PPE when operating hose lines. When testing hose, use discharges away from the pump panel.

SEFETY RECOMMENDATIONS: Treat hoses and couplings under test pressure as dangerous – THEY ARE! Never straddle the hose. The pump operator shall be ready to shut the pump down at any moment.