The Apparatus Architects: Proper Maintenance and Operations for Emergency Vehicles

June 30, 2009

The Apparatus Architects focus on firefighter and emergency vehicle safety as they close out June and the Firefighter Safety, Health & Survival Week.

Tom Shand and Michael Wilbur look at a variety of NFPA Standards, including 1911, 1912, 1931 and 1962, and the 16 Life Safety Initiatives that form a baseline for annual vehicle inspections and safety checks. They break down each of these standards and how they relate to safer vehicle response and fireground operations.

The hosts also review several NIOSH reports involving firefighter deaths and injuries as a result of vehicle crashes during emergency responses. More than one-third of all fatal vehicle crashes involved personal owned vehicles (POVs) and 75 percent of the vehicle response LODDs involved personel who were not wearing seatbelts.

Please send any questions, suggestions or comments for this podcast to: [email protected].

Related Links


NFPA 1911: Standard for the Inspection, Maintenance, Testing, and Retirement of In-Service Automotive Fire Apparatus

NFPA 1912: Standard for Fire Apparatus Refurbishing

NFPA 1932: Standard on Use, Maintenance, and Service Testing of In-Service Fire Department Ground Ladders

NFPA 1962: Standard for the Inspection, Care, and Use of Fire Hose, Couplings, and Nozzles and the Service Testing of Fire Hose, 2008

NIOSH Alert: Improper Set-up of Aerial Ladders with a Locking Waterway May Put Fire Fighters at Risk

NIOSH Fire Fighter Fatality Investigation Reports Involving Vehicles

Voice Your Opinion!

To join the conversation, and become an exclusive member of Firehouse, create an account today!