HICO, Texas — A NIOSH report of a 2005 Texas apparatus accident recommends fire departments should develop SOPs for seat belt use and regular vehicle maintenance.
Clint Dewayne Rice of Hico, Texas, was driving a water tanker to a fire when he lost control of the vehicle and went off the road. Rice, who was allegedly not wearing a seat belt, was tossed to the passenger side of the cab when the vehicle rolled over and then was ejected from the vehicle prior to the apparatus coming to a stop in the middle of a field.
Like many other vehicle accident line of duty deaths, NIOSH recommends that fire departments establish and maintain SOPs relating to the proper use of seat belts. The report's recommendations also include that vehicles should always be operated within their weight carrying capacity, undergo routine maintenance checks and that those operating the equipment should have proper training.
