Citation

Accid. Reconstr. J. 2001; 12(5): 49-51.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2001, Accident Reconstruction Journal)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

This article reports on a National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) investigation into an accident in which a volunteer fire fighter died in a fire engine rollover incident. The accident occurred when the tires on the engine's right side went off the road onto the soft shoulder, causing the driver to lose control of the engine. The victim had completed an emergency vehicle driving course twice in 1992 (five years before the crash), and was not wearing a seatbelt at the time of the accident. The NIOSH report includes several recommendations based on this incident: (1) Fire departments should establish, implement and enforce standard operating procedures on the use of seatbelts in all emergency vehicles; (2) fire departments should ensure drivers of fire apparatus do not move vehicles until all occupants in vehicles are secured with seatbelts; (3) fire departments should ensure all drivers of fire department vehicles are responsible for the safe and prudent operation of the vehicle under all conditions; and (4) fire departments should ensure all drivers of fire department vehicles receive driver training at least twice a year.