Airbag bust

[backdraft663]

Has anyone ever had an airbag burst, it came to find when I read something about the hurst tools line busting. What would happen if it were to bust?

[MetalMedic]

It would make a loud noise and the Chief would not be happy...

I recently had a conversation with a sales rep about airbags and was told that "Code 3" had a bag fail about 3 years ago that killed a firefighter. I do not know anything more than that... not even sure that Code 3 made airbags, but it gives you some place to start.

[sfdeng2]

663,

The salesman that Met Med spoke with was partially correct.

Code 3 does not make a LIFTING bag. ResQ Tek, who used to be Code 3, does have LIFTING bags. The salesman was correct in saying that they had a fatal incident in, I believe, 2002. Even more recently I believe Hurst had a fatal incident with their LIFTING bags just a couple of months ago that was discussed on this forum.

Both incidents were a result of user error/training. The NIOSH report has been released about the ResQ Tek NT Bags. VERY informative, you should read it. The report is a training session in itself. That incident came down to a training issue.

I don't know as much about the other incident but what I do know is that it came down to improper use.

There would probably be two people alive today if they stabilized(cribbed) the load that was being lifted.

After saying all of that, 80% of Heavy Lifting is STABILIZATION (vertically and horizontally), 10% is common sense and the other 10% is the actual LIFTING bag.

Stay Safe,

Mike