Front Seatbelt problems

[IzzyEng4 427]

I was on Firehouse.com today and their new poll question was about seatbelts on the officer and driver positions getting caught up in the door and getting damaged. My company's new pumper has the new 911 Seats with the integrated seatbelts. A few times after taking them off (while driving the rig) I have experienced the seatbelt not retracting back, just like my personal vehicle. Also too, with the location of the buckle when retracted, the position of the pin on the seat has chipped the paint of the driver's side door along the inside window frame.

I really think that NFPA and the industry has to rethink apparatus seatbelts again and come up with a better solution, not just for keeping it out of the way from being damaged but also for safety reasons. I really don't like the design of the integrated seatbelt with the seat (thinking worse case scenario the seat lets got and now your being thrown around with you strapped into the seat along with a SCBA in the backrest.)

What do you all think?

[jayhalsey 6]

I was on Firehouse.com today and their new poll question was about seatbelts on the officer and driver positions getting caught up in the door and getting damaged. My company's new pumper has the new 911 Seats with the integrated seatbelts. A few times after taking them off (while driving the rig) I have experienced the seatbelt not retracting back, just like my personal vehicle. Also too, with the location of the buckle when retracted, the position of the pin on the seat has chipped the paint of the driver's side door along the inside window frame.

I really think that NFPA and the industry has to rethink apparatus seatbelts again and come up with a better solution, not just for keeping it out of the way from being damaged but also for safety reasons. I really don't like the design of the integrated seatbelt with the seat (thinking worse case scenario the seat lets got and now your being thrown around with you strapped into the seat along with a SCBA in the backrest.)

What do you all think?

Was reading in the thread about teh monster bumper that they mounted the officers seatbelt backwards. Meaning the moving portion was over the left shoulder and the stationary part was by the door. This would seemingly alleviate the belt getting hung up in the door. Anyone know of any safety issues with mounting the seatbelt reverse like this?

[Guest]

My company's new pumper has the new 911 Seats with the integrated seatbelts. A few times after taking them off (while driving the rig) I have experienced the seatbelt not retracting back, just like my personal vehicle. Also too, with the location of the buckle when retracted, the position of the pin on the seat has chipped the paint of the driver's side door along the inside window frame.

I have seen similar things with standard mount belts. We had stainless door jambs added to reduce paint damage from this and other things. If I can get a good picture tomorrow, i'll post it.

[Guest partyrock]

Why can't SCBA be used to restrain ff's. Wider straps should be able to handle the impact forces and a retention system similar to pierce's bottle clamp system should be cappable of doing the job while allowing easy access.

[Remember585 815]

With our old engine, we only had waist belts and if they weren't worn or sometimes after they were taken off, they would get caught under the doors.

The new engine has shoulder/waist belts at 6 of the 8 seats, the other two have waist only because of their location.

ALL OF THEM JAM UP and DON'T RETRACT at times. It's a pain in the a**! I don't blame our rig manufacturer, I just think something better can be designed. Just the other day I got out of the rig back in quarters and my belt (driver's seat) got caught AGAIN in the door.

On the up side of things - our people wear belts more now then when we had the open cab. I guess the uncontrollable urge to stand up in the jump seats isn't a problem anymore, THANK GOD!

[Guest]

There is a "911" seat in the engine I ride. It's one of the worst I've used. The pack sits too low, and the seat angle allows you to "submarine" right our from under it. Sometimes it seems like to only thing holding me inis the pack straps. Also plagued with the belt not fully retracting. Oh well.