1. NEAR MISS SAFETY REPORT
TRAINING DIVISION
NEAR MISS SAFETY REPORT

2. 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.

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

5. Synopsis:
Engine 20 had connected 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.

6. 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

7. 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.

8. Damaged Hose:

9. 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.

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

11. Both pieces sitting on the Captain side running board

13. Fractured 30 Degree elbow
Both pieces set together

14. 30 Degree elbow
Fractured pieces put back together
Notice the missing pieces
Threaded hole is for the discharge drain

15. Captains side
Bent chrome

16. 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

17. Captains side
Bent diamond plate

18. 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

19. TRAINING DIVISION: RECOMENDATIONS

20. 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.

21. 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.

22. 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.

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

24. 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.