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Stored energy: injury caused by failure of expansion joint in fire-fighting equipment - DEV imca
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Stored energy: injury caused by failure of expansion joint in fire-fighting equipment

What happened?

During a trial of fire-fighting equipment, a hose expansion joint or bellows failed. The release of pressurized water hit a crewman who was standing nearby, slamming him backward and knocking him unconscious. The fire pump was shut down and help was sought. CPR was administered; subsequently the injured person was medevaced.

This incident was considered by our member to be a potential fatality. The injured person was in hospital for some weeks.

What went wrong? What were the causes?

Some identified issues were:

  • There was inadequate management of significant risk;
  • There was no understanding of the life time of the expansion joint or bellows;
  • There was no installation procedure provided for this bellows by the manufacturer;
  • There was no preventive maintenance or inspection/testing of the failed equipment.

What actions were taken? What lessons were learned?

Our member drew the following lessons:

  • There had been a similar rupture of a bellows some years previously; this earlier incident was not investigated. Had it been investigated, it might have helped in preventing reoccurrence;
  • Engineering and design of critical equipment during new building should take into consideration personnel safety as well as equipment protection;
  • There needs to be a better design review of pressurised equipment, particularly where different components are in use.

Members may wish to review the following incidents:

Safety Event

Published: 9 July 2018
Download: IMCA SF 14/18

Relevant life-saving rules:
IMCA Safety Flashes
Submit a Report

IMCA Safety Flashes summarise key safety matters and incidents, allowing lessons to be more easily learnt for the benefit of all. The effectiveness of the IMCA Safety Flash system depends on Members sharing information and so avoiding repeat incidents. Please consider adding safetyreports@imca-int.com to your internal distribution list for safety alerts or manually submitting information on incidents you consider may be relevant. All information is anonymised or sanitised, as appropriate.

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IMCA makes every effort to ensure the accuracy and reliability of the data contained in the documents it publishes, but IMCA shall not be liable for any guidance and/or recommendation and/or statement herein contained. The information contained in this document does not fulfil or replace any individual’s or Member's legal, regulatory or other duties or obligations in respect of their operations. Individuals and Members remain solely responsible for the safe, lawful and proper conduct of their operations.