NASHVILLE, Ind. — A vehicle that struck and killed a firefighter at a fire station was not properly blocked from inadvertent movement, according to a line of duty death investigation.
Fire Capt. Leonard Arthur Murray was killed while the vehicle undergoing maintenance rolled forward and pinned him against a wall at the Jackson Township Fire Department station in Nashville, Ind., on November 5 last year.
Two firefighters, including Capt. Murray, were in front of the brush truck when the apparatus started to lunge forward as if it was beginning to start, according to a NIOSH investigation released Wednesday.
The firefighter/mechanic working on the vehicle immediately jumped into the driver’s seat and pushed what he thought was the brake pedal with both feet, but the truck kept moving forward and struck both firefighters.
Capt. Murray dropped to his knees, while the other firefighter was pushed against construction materials.
The truck then rolled backwards and released the firefighter in front, at which point the firefighter/mechanic inside realized his feet were pressing on the clutch pedal.
The firefighter/mechanic moved his right foot to the brake pedal, thinking his left foot remain on the clutch, but his left foot left the clutch pedal before the brake pedal was depressed, and the truck lunged forward again, striking and pinning Capt. Murray.
The local sheriff’s office investigated and reported that the firefighter/medic was possibly in “a frantic state of mind” while trying to stop the vehicle.
As a result of the fatality, NIOSH investigators recommend fire departments ensure vehicles are blocked during maintenance to prevent inadvertent movement, by taking steps like setting the parking break, wheel chocks or disconnection of the battery.
“The firefighter/mechanic believed the floor to be relatively level and placed the manual transmission in a low gear to prevent the vehicle from accidentally moving,” the report said.
“A set parking brake and the use of wheel chocks may have prevented the vehicle from lunging forward.”
Fire departments should also develop and enforce safe work practices within vehicle maintenance facilities, NIOSH said.
In this incident, “the fire department allowed anyone to walk within the bay when necessary, and did not have a policy or procedure in place dictating who was authorized to be in the building when vehicles were being worked on,” the report said.
Vehicle operators and maintenance personnel should also be aware of available manufacturer installed safety devices on apparatus, investigators said.
“A clutch pedal interlock switch may provide redundant protection against injury from unexpected vehicle movement as evidenced by this incident,” the report said.
Firefighters need to be aware that such devices may be present in some manual transmission vehicles, but not all, as previous experiences where the technology is already present may lead firefighters to conclude all vehicles include such safety measures.
Investigators also recommended departments develop preventive maintenance programs and suggested a nationwide procedure for surplus vehicles that assist with identifying safety issues before fire departments take possession of the vehicles and place them in service.