The SFE - Doc 43 Elmswell Fire Station
SUFFOLK FIRE SERVICE
ACCIDENT REPORT HSF1b
1. Name of Investigating Officer: ADO Hayden
2. Name of Injured: Sub Officer Wigglesworth
3. AIN: 762
4. Preliminary Details:
Sub Officer Wigglesworth was assisting with a BA Phase II course at Lowestoft, involving a chemical exercise. The exercise, which had been devised by Sub Officer Wigglesworth, involved the use of the water bowser buck (dismounted) which simulated a road tanker. Two drill dummies simulating casualties were placed on top of the water bowser, and it was whilst positioning these dummies that Sub Officer Wigglesworth injured his back.
5. History
Sub Officer Wigglesworth had devised a chemical exercise as a confirmation of instruction on the BA Phase II course. He was also responsible for setting up the exercise, which was due to begin at 1100 hrs. Although he had arranged for and expected assistance in setting up the exercise from LFF Bartram, when LFF Bartram had not arrived in the drill yard shortly before 1000hrs, Sub Officer Wigglesworth decided to continue alone rather than go back into the building at Normanshurst to seek assistance. Sub Officer Wigglesworth’s drill consisted of a simulated road tanker incident, using the buck of the the 016 water bowser buck. Whilst manoeuvring the two adult size training dummies onto the top of the tank, he injured his back.
6. Immediate Contributory Causes
1. As a result of injuries in the past, the safe movement of training dummies by trainers is a high profile task, and standard operating procedures call for at least two instructors when positioning dummies in a smoke training facility. The manoeuvre being attempted by Sub Officer Wigglesworth was clearly at least as hazardous, if not more so, than working within a smoke training facility and would require a minimum of two people working together to safely manoeuvre the training dummies.
2. Other contributory causes, such as the condition of the training dummies, Sub Officer Wigglesworths kit and the ladder on the water bowser were considered and found to be in good condition. it is unlikely therefore, that these issues contributed to the accident.
7. Pertinent Sub Causes
Sub Officer Wigglesworth is an experienced trainer who is well aware of the manual handling hazards involved in manoeuvering training dummies. Having recognised that this exercise required two instructors to set up safely, he asked for assistance from LFF Bartram. However, when LFF Bartram was delayed he decided to undertake the task alone rather than wait for LFF Bartram or seek other assistance.
At the time of the accident, there was one instructor involved with the course and a further three instructors available in the training office at 016. The positioning of training dummies would have taken two or more instructors less than five minutes to complete and the exercise was not due to commence until 1100 hrs. Therefore, there is no reason why Sub Officer Wigglesworth would have needed to carry out the manoeuvre on his own at 1000 hrs. On interviewing him, he stated that he was “fed up” with waiting for assistance and “could not be bothered” to go back into the offices at 016 to seek help or find out where LFF Bartram was.
8. List of Conclusions of the Investigation
This accident was caused by Sub Officer Wigglesworth failing to observe safe systems of work. there was no immediate necessity for him to undertake the task alone, and by his own admission, his failure to ensure that he had assistance was due to a bad work attitude.
9. Detail the actions Initiated to Prevent Re Occurance
1. Sub officer Wigglesworth has been given a written warning about his work attitude and reminded of his personal responsibility to follow safe systems of work
2. A general reminder has been issued to all training instructors warning them to assess manual handling tasks and ensure that they do not attempt to carry out tasks alone, which are unsuitable for a single person lift. They have been instructed specifically that this applies to manoeuvring training dummies.
10 Further Action
Sub Officer Wigglesworth’s work will be monitored in the future to ensure that he complies with safe systems of work.
11. Attachments
N/A
P. Hayden
ADO Training
ACCIDENT REPORT HSF1b
1. Name of Investigating Officer: ADO Hayden
2. Name of Injured: Sub Officer Wigglesworth
3. AIN: 762
4. Preliminary Details:
Sub Officer Wigglesworth was assisting with a BA Phase II course at Lowestoft, involving a chemical exercise. The exercise, which had been devised by Sub Officer Wigglesworth, involved the use of the water bowser buck (dismounted) which simulated a road tanker. Two drill dummies simulating casualties were placed on top of the water bowser, and it was whilst positioning these dummies that Sub Officer Wigglesworth injured his back.
5. History
Sub Officer Wigglesworth had devised a chemical exercise as a confirmation of instruction on the BA Phase II course. He was also responsible for setting up the exercise, which was due to begin at 1100 hrs. Although he had arranged for and expected assistance in setting up the exercise from LFF Bartram, when LFF Bartram had not arrived in the drill yard shortly before 1000hrs, Sub Officer Wigglesworth decided to continue alone rather than go back into the building at Normanshurst to seek assistance. Sub Officer Wigglesworth’s drill consisted of a simulated road tanker incident, using the buck of the the 016 water bowser buck. Whilst manoeuvring the two adult size training dummies onto the top of the tank, he injured his back.
6. Immediate Contributory Causes
1. As a result of injuries in the past, the safe movement of training dummies by trainers is a high profile task, and standard operating procedures call for at least two instructors when positioning dummies in a smoke training facility. The manoeuvre being attempted by Sub Officer Wigglesworth was clearly at least as hazardous, if not more so, than working within a smoke training facility and would require a minimum of two people working together to safely manoeuvre the training dummies.
2. Other contributory causes, such as the condition of the training dummies, Sub Officer Wigglesworths kit and the ladder on the water bowser were considered and found to be in good condition. it is unlikely therefore, that these issues contributed to the accident.
7. Pertinent Sub Causes
Sub Officer Wigglesworth is an experienced trainer who is well aware of the manual handling hazards involved in manoeuvering training dummies. Having recognised that this exercise required two instructors to set up safely, he asked for assistance from LFF Bartram. However, when LFF Bartram was delayed he decided to undertake the task alone rather than wait for LFF Bartram or seek other assistance.
At the time of the accident, there was one instructor involved with the course and a further three instructors available in the training office at 016. The positioning of training dummies would have taken two or more instructors less than five minutes to complete and the exercise was not due to commence until 1100 hrs. Therefore, there is no reason why Sub Officer Wigglesworth would have needed to carry out the manoeuvre on his own at 1000 hrs. On interviewing him, he stated that he was “fed up” with waiting for assistance and “could not be bothered” to go back into the offices at 016 to seek help or find out where LFF Bartram was.
8. List of Conclusions of the Investigation
This accident was caused by Sub Officer Wigglesworth failing to observe safe systems of work. there was no immediate necessity for him to undertake the task alone, and by his own admission, his failure to ensure that he had assistance was due to a bad work attitude.
9. Detail the actions Initiated to Prevent Re Occurance
1. Sub officer Wigglesworth has been given a written warning about his work attitude and reminded of his personal responsibility to follow safe systems of work
2. A general reminder has been issued to all training instructors warning them to assess manual handling tasks and ensure that they do not attempt to carry out tasks alone, which are unsuitable for a single person lift. They have been instructed specifically that this applies to manoeuvring training dummies.
10 Further Action
Sub Officer Wigglesworth’s work will be monitored in the future to ensure that he complies with safe systems of work.
11. Attachments
N/A
P. Hayden
ADO Training
posted by Bert Blythburgh at 11:56 PM
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