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Post by thelurker on Jan 1, 2008 23:36:26 GMT -5
I just want to remind every one to wear their safety glasses and gloves when operating hydraulic tools.
We had an incident here a few days ago where a Firefighter was doing the weekly check out on the Hydraulic tools. I will stress, these tools were NOT under any load. When the firefighter extended the ram out, it shot a pressurized curtain of hydraulic fluid out in about an 8 foot arc. The fluid (thankfully the new "Safer" stuff) got in the firefighter's eyes. He immediately went to the eye wash station and began flushing his eyes. He was transported by ambulance to Cooper as a precautionary measure. He is ok and has returned to work. Although he only missed the rest of the shift this could have been a very, very bad incident.
Upon furthur inspection of the ram, it was determined that the 4 screws that hold the Twist Handle/Valve Body to the body of the ram had come loose. The tools are serviced by the Manufacturer's rep on an annual basis, and had been done this year already. We do not know why this happened, and the service tech has not yet come out to inspect the tool. If I have any more to add, I will do so.
Please, I will stress again, "WEAR PROPER PPE WHEN OPERATING ANY POWERED EQUIPMENT" This means Safety glasses, gloves, and if needed, Hearing protection.
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Post by wellingcountry on Jan 8, 2008 22:43:24 GMT -5
I 100% aggree with you always wear your ppe during inspection, training, and actual operation. During a training exercise I was working with our spreaders preforming a dash lift after completion of the lift I was standing next to the tool looking and dicussing with others what we had just done when the tool squirted pressureized hydraulic fluid out right into my face. Thankfully I was wearing my saftey glasses so my eyes where protected. This could have been a lot worse if I had not had my glasses on because the stream could not have hit me more perfect dead center of my eyes.
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ENG27SQ
Division Supervisor 
MS Paint Guru
Posts: 653
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Post by ENG27SQ on Jan 8, 2008 22:54:03 GMT -5
WHAT?Kidding Dean, hearing protection is a big one. I hate to say it but a lot of our senior firefighters have a big hearing loss. Yell at me, but it's true. We can't stress enough proper PPE during extrication ops. Those goggles on the helmet, yes, that is one use of them, PUT THEM OVER YOUR EYES.Your not looking any cooler with them off. The public does watch and Im pretty sure if they look close enough and notice your goggles, resting on the brim of the helmet and not covering your eyes. It isnt that hard for them to mention to your chief about that. And having the public pick out a mistake like that is just embarrassing, and unsafe. Wear the proper PPE or stay home!  PS Dave (wellingcountry) congrats on your LT position brother.
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Post by papacheese on Jan 9, 2008 6:11:02 GMT -5
Somewhere in my vast vault of vids, I have a Power Point showing the results of a high pressure fluid leak on human tissue...and it ain't pretty. Wear your PPE!
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Post by opsoverkill on Jan 9, 2008 9:38:50 GMT -5
Good Topic!!!
Rescue Tools Safety is just not limited to PPE, Eye Protection, Hand Protection.
How many are removing the Keys from the vehicle and placing it at least 25 feet away from that vehicle?
How many are securing Electrical system?
How many are removing the trim of the inside of vehicle exposing the post?
How many are using hard protection while using tools to protect the Pt. ?
How many are stabilizing the vehicle any time a pt is removed from the vehicle? That includes just putting a Pt. in a KED!!!!
How many are doing inner and outer Safety circle to identify any safety concerns, the number of vehicles, the number of PT. ?
And talking about PPE how many have separate gear for Rescue assignments? I know it is a big expense but Just by replacing your turnout jacket with a wildland jacket reduces weight and heat retention properties while still having the cut protection and flash protection.
I am one of the lucky ones. I have my Fire PPE. I have the Wildland Jacket, I have USAR turnout gear which is my favorite to wear and I have my work Rescue jumpsuits (which is from Globe) If your company has the money or needs a idea for Fire act grant get the USAR gear it is light and easy to move in and 1000% cooler (as in less heat)to wear
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ENG27SQ
Division Supervisor
MS Paint Guru
Posts: 653
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Post by ENG27SQ on Jan 9, 2008 9:44:21 GMT -5
Good Topic!!! Rescue Tools Safety is just not limited to PPE, Eye Protection, Hand Protection. How many are removing the Keys from the vehicle and placing it at least 25 feet away from that vehicle? How many are securing Electrical system? How many are removing the trim of the inside of vehicle exposing the post? How many are using hard protection while using tools to protect the Pt. ? How many are stabilizing the vehicle any time a pt is removed from the vehicle? That includes just putting a Pt. in a KED!!!! How many are doing inner and outer Safety circle to identify any safety concerns, the number of vehicles, the number of PT. ? And talking about PPE how many have separate gear for Rescue assignments? I know it is a big expense but Just by replacing your turnout jacket with a wildland jacket reduces weight and heat retention properties while still having the cut protection and flash protection. I am one of the lucky ones. I have my Fire PPE. I have the Wildland Jacket, I have USAR turnout gear which is my favorite to wear and I have my work Rescue jumpsuits (which is from Globe) If your company has the money or needs a idea for Fire act grant get the USAR gear it is light and easy to move in and 1000% cooler (as in less heat)to wear What about something so easily looked over... Stretching a line for protection? |
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Post by wellingcountry on Jan 9, 2008 14:34:51 GMT -5
Heres a good one that I think should be mentioned.
Never get yourself between the tool and the car. On a rescue a while ago a firefighter from another department was working a tool and his hand became caught between the car and tool and when the tool turned it more less crushed his hand between the tool and the car.
Also to remeber to always have someone watching the pumps. During a traning exercise I walked past 4399 to have a mist sprayed into my face at first it took me a second to realize what it was but after looking I had dertermined it was a hose that had sprund a leak and was now spraying hydro fluid all over. Needless to say the leak had been going on for a while and it took several hours to clean all the equiptment and the truck up and some of the lettering socthlite on the truck was damaged. Lesson learned allways have someone watch the truck because had we seen it sooner less damage may have occured.
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hp4l
Division Supervisor
Remember Your Roots
Posts: 600
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Post by hp4l on Jan 9, 2008 14:49:50 GMT -5
I will strongly second the not getting between the car and the tool. The first time that I got to use tools was at a drill when I was 18. The guy I was with got between the car and the tool and when the door popped, so did the tip of his thumb. I had no idea what was going on. He took his glove off and his hand was just red. The tip of his thumb was still in the glove. I nearly fainted and thought I had killed him. Luckily Medic 33 (Care 3 then) was right there and the FF was taken to the hospital to have his finger fixed. After some further training, on a different day, we learned more about the tools and where to and not to stand while working.
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Post by PtFireGuy on Jan 11, 2008 22:38:47 GMT -5
I've even noticed on a few scenes that some of the more "seasoned" firefighters tend to only wear the top half of thier PPE, meaning no bunker pants. All PPE should be worn. I remember a few years ago i was on a cut job and got struck with a piece of srapnel from the car. good thing i was wearing my pants or it really would've done damage.
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Post by thelurker on Jan 12, 2008 11:20:19 GMT -5
I've even noticed on a few scenes that some of the more "seasoned" firefighters tend to only wear the top half of thier PPE, meaning no bunker pants. All PPE should be worn. I remember a few years ago i was on a cut job and got struck with a piece of srapnel from the car. good thing i was wearing my pants or it really would've done damage. That depends on your department's SOG's. |
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Post by wellingcountry on Jan 12, 2008 13:26:02 GMT -5
Watch the end of this video. Its not as much tool saftey as a great reason why a hose line should be in place for protection during rescues. Also a reason why the PT should be protected by a flame retartand extrication blanket rather than just a sheet off the rig. www.youtube.com/watch?v=yNM4CzzQr9I |
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