On May 8, the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) issued a Safety Advisory entitled “Improper Set-up of Aerial Ladders with a Locking Waterway May Put Fire Fighters at Risk.”
In the notice, NIOSH recommends that all fire departments using aerial ladder trucks with locking (pin-anchored, lever actuated, clamped) waterways immediately take the following actions to reduce the risk of firefighters being struck by unsecured waterways or parts of the waterway:
NIOSH is investigating an April 8, 2008, firefighter line-of-duty death that indicates that adhering to manufacturer recommended setup procedures for aerial ladder operations is “paramount to ensuring fire fighter safety.” The pin-anchored waterway design involved in this investigation, NIOSH adds, is not limited to a single model or apparatus manufacturer.
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