NIOSH Report On TX FF's Who Fell 8 Stories From Tower Ladder Bucket

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From "The Secret List"

Hey-

As you will remember, on January 25 of this year, 2 Firefighters were killed in the Line of Duty after falling from the bucket of a tower ladder during training in Texas.

The NIOSH report (below) identifies factors leading to the tragic ending including Firefighters being unfamiliar with the controls on the newly purchased aerial platform truck, training in a "high risk" scenario before becoming familiar with new equipment, failure to use fall restraints, the design of the platform railing and integrated doors and the location of the lifting eyes underneath the platform...all which contributed to the platform snagging on the building's parapet wall.

Firefighters Kyle Perkins, 45, and Cory Galloway, 28, both died in the Line of Duty after falling approximately 83 feet to the ground.

The Firefighters were training on their newly purchased 95-foot mid-mount truck. 4 FF's were standing in the bucket which was raised to the roof of an 8 story dormitory building at a local college. The bucket became stuck on the concrete parapet wall at the top of the building. During attempts to free the bucket, the top edge of the parapet wall gave way and the aerial ladder sprung back from the top of the building, then began to whip violently back and forth. 2 of the 4 Fire fighters standing in the bucket were ejected from the platform by the motion. The Firefighters fell approximately 83 feet to the ground and died from their injuries.

HERE is the report: http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/fire/reports/face200906.html

HERE is an article:

http://www.tylerpaper.com/apps/pbcs.dll/ar...EWS01/907170335