National Fire Fighter Near-Miss Reporting System # & #07-777: Near Miss & Industry Working Toward a Safer Fire Service Equipment Reports & The Near-Miss Reporting System

Equipment Equipment is cited as a Contributing Factor in 19% of reports (2008). Manufacturer is named in approx. 10%. When manufacturers are mentioned by name, staff is advised by Reviewers. Staff contacts manufacturer. Advises report has been received. Shares report details. Asks for comment or solution.

Who Weve Talked To Elkhart Hurst Interspiro Seagrave Tempest TNT Rescue Tools

Elkhart Brass Mfg. Co. Chief 4000 Nozzle

# An (manufacturer and model number deleted) break-apart nozzle on the end of a bundle failed during a structure fire. The fire was coming through the second story roof of a four-plex upon arrival in the early morning hours. It was threatening the neighboring four-plex, about 10 feet away, downwind…When the nozzle operator attempted to adjust his water flow pattern, the entire outer portion of the nozzle came off in his hand, making the nozzle useless. The design allows the operator to unscrew the part of the nozzle ahead of the shutoff and operate with an open butt, which the nozzle operator did. A later inspection of the nozzle revealed that it was missing several screws that attach a retainer ring to the adjustable portion of the nozzle. When the operator rotated the outer portion, the retainer ring hit a stop and remained attached to the main body of the nozzle while the outer sleeve continued to rotate until it came off and the inner bearings fell out. The operator recognized what had happened, and therefore what to do about it, because the same thing had happened to him 14 months earlier.

Chief

Elkharts Response

Interspiro/ISI S Series SCBA

# While working as part of an interior fire attack crew at the scene of a working structure fire, my SCBA malfunctioned. We had made entrance and extended the hose line to the rear bedroom on the B/C corner or the residence… I was standing approximately 8 feet inside the front door when the low pressure hose on my SCBA failed and blew out. I was still able to breathe air, although with less volume, so I advised the guys I was evacuating the structure. I exited the structure and removed my SCBA to see what had happened. The SCBA was examined by the Engineer and also others on-scene. We all realized that apparently an ember had fallen on the pack frame near the low pressure hose due to the damage present on the pack frame.

Interspiro

Interspiros Action

Media Recognition Reprinted by Permission of Fire Apparatus & Emergency Equipment Magazine

Process Post report to system while working with manufacturer. When manufacturer responds, give full credit. Overseas parent companies are more difficult to work with. Manufacturers need to be informed and educated about Near Miss.

Equipment Issue Policy (Draft) Reviewers recommend to Near-Miss Staff the need for an alert. Near-Miss Staff creates a draft alert based on the following 3- level tiered system. Template of Alert is attached. Alert Bulletins: a specific, serious problem FYI: less specific, condition to be aware of Safety Inquiries: Asking for information about certain events/conditions Near-Miss Staff creates a distribution list for alert. Near-Miss Staff and/or IAFC Staff contacts manufacturer, if needed. Alert and distribution list are given to IAFC Management for final approval.

Procedure (Draft) Conference call of Review Committee is scheduled ASAP. Notification of conference call includes: Letter to manufacturer, if needed. Alert text. Report(s) in question. Distribution plan. Edits to documentation are made and approved by IAFC Management. Alert is distributed.

Alert Distribution List (Draft) *Dependent on the type of alert* IAFC Safety Health and Survival Section IAFF FireRescue1.com Firehouse.com Report of the Week list Responder Knowledge Base

Recommended Review Committee Reviewer Operations Safety Training Union Legal

Contact Information The National Fire Fighter Near-Miss Reporting System 4025 Fair Ridge Drive Fairfax, Virginia Tel: Fax: