Line of Duty Death Report F2022-07: Career Firefighter Dies from Crush Injuries During Sand Trailer Operations - Florida

Details

• Personal Author:
  Schaeffer, Tammy L.
• Description:
  On June 30, 2022, two firefighters (FF-A and FF-B) were assigned to relocate a hazardous materials spill unit (sand trailer) from the fire department storage facility. While hooking the sand trailer to the tow vehicle, the coupler of the sand trailer tilted upward, pinning FF-A underneath the load at the rear. FF-A was pinned across his shoulders, chest, and lower legs. FF-B immediately called for help using a portable department radio and verbally yelling for help. Firefighters nearby heard the emergency call for assistance and quickly responded to the storage facility. Medical evaluation was conducted while rescue efforts were initiated. FF-A was reportedly unresponsive and fully cyanotic (blueish discoloration of the skin due to a lack of oxygenation) from mid-chest and up, including fully involved cerebral and neck edema. Crews worked quickly to stabilize and lift the load from FFA. Upon release of the load on FF-A's chest and shoulders, FF-A was heard taking in a deep breath and became progressively more responsive with diminishing cyanosis. Full extrication took place and FF-A was transferred to a stretcher and to the fire department's emergency medical service (EMS) unit. Request for a medical flight from the scene to the hospital was made; however, the driving distance to the hospital was determined to be faster than the provided response time of the medical helicopter. FF-A was transported by EMS, with full trauma protocol initiated, to the emergency room (ER). Upon arrival to the ER, FF-A was engaging in limited conversation with the EMS crew. FF-A was evaluated and diagnosed with crushing blunt force trauma to the trunk and upper extremities and a lower leg fracture. He was admitted to the intensive care unit. During the next 15-days, FF-A developed acute respiratory distress syndrome due to the crushing blunt force trauma, which required extracoporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) and kidney dialysis treatments. FF-A died from crushing blunt force trauma injury complications on July 15, 2022, as reported by the medical examiner. Contributing Factors: Vehicle and equipment inspection and maintenance; Inspection criteria and accountability for vehicles and equipment; Real-time risk assessment. Key Recommendations - Fire departments should: 1) Develop a comprehensive vehicle and equipment inspection and maintenance program that includes emergency vehicle training and fleet management training. 2) Work with AHJ, ASE-certified mechanics and Emergency Vehicle Technicians to ensure inspection and maintenance criteria are developed and available to identify deficiencies that render vehicles or equipment out of service. 3) Develop a risk management program that reinforces personnel situational awareness throughout real-time risk assessments.
• Subjects:
  Firefighters Fires Mortality Occupational Health Safety
• Keywords:
  Region 4; Fire fighters; Fire fighting; Fatalities; Emergency responders; Recommendations; Accident analysis; Motor vehicles; Situational awareness; Risk assessment; Traumatic injuries; Vehicle safety
• FACE - Firefighter:
  Cause of Death Trauma (0004) ; Motor Vehicle (0018) ; Miscellaneous (motor vehicle) (0022) ; Miscellaneous (traumatic cause) (0034)
• Series:
  Fatality Assessment and Control Evaluation Reports (FACE)
• Subseries:
  Firefighter Fatality Investigation
• Publisher:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Document Type:
  Text
• Genre:
  Field Study ; Report
• Place as Subject:
  Florida ; West Virginia ; Philadelphia Region [OSHA] ; Birmingham Region [OSHA] ; Atlanta Region [OSHA]
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Division:
  DSR - Division of Safety Research
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• Pages in Document:
  19 pdf pages
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20071006
• Citation:
  Morgantown, WV: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Public Health Service, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, FACE F2022-07, 2025 Apr; :1-17
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  2025
• NORA Priority Area:
  Public Safety
• Peer Reviewed:
  False
• NAICS and SIC Codes:
  92 - Public Administration - (NAICS)
• Start Date:
  20220630
• Source Full Name:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:0025562f598e846405e98f47c0abe71d9f0ac4376535237b824a0305323f86add60cd978d031fcd64f7a2d24057bd06ee497b4d0d6227636fb96b26bb161558a
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/257785/cdc_257785_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 1.39 MB ]