Citation

Accid. Reconstr. J. 2001; 12(5): 20-22.

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 tanker truck rollover accident. The accident occurred when the victim, responding to a call in the tanker truck, rounded a curve and dropped the passenger side wheels off the road onto the shoulder. The victim oversteered and lost control in attempting to steer the truck back onto the road. The vehicle skidded across the roadway, flipped and rolled to a stop. The truck was originally a utility truck, but had been modified to be used as a tanker truck for water supply. The truck was top-heavy and had a short wheelbase. The NIOSH report includes several recommendations based on this incident: (1) Fire departments should ensure that all operators of emergency vehicles be familiar with the vehicle and its design; (2) Fire departments should ensure that operators of emergency vehicles operate them in a safe manner to minimize the potential for a skid; (3) Fire departments should ensure that all fire fighters riding in emergency vehicles are wearing and belted securely by seat belts; and (4) Fire departments should develop and implement standard operating procedures for operation of emergency vehicles.