Federal investigators have determined that both the fire chief and an instructor yelled at a firefighter to get down off a rope just before he plunged to his death.
Chip Imker, 35, a member of Cambridge Fire Department in Minnesota, was killed May 23 after a training class at his department.
NIOSH officials said the lack of a safety officer, the lack of proper PPE and the student to instructor were factors in the fatal incident.
“The victim and two fire fighters (sic) were standing in front of the tower ladder when the victim (without PPE) decided to climb one of two ropes suspended from the bottom of the aerial platform in an attempt to access the other suspended rope. The instructor and the fire chief saw the victim on the rope and both of them called for him to stop and get down. The victim then apparently lost his grip on the rope and fell head first approximately 6-8 feet to the pavement. The instructor and other fire fighters began emergency medical procedures and the victim was transported to a local hospital where he died from his injuries,” investigators wrote.
Fellow firefighters also said climbing and rappelling were not part of the class.
NIOSH officials also said had Imker been wearing a helmet, the injuries may have been less severe.
Among the recommendations in addition to wearing PPE, they said departments should have a safety officer present at all times during the training.
