Report Number: 06-0000426
Report Date: 08/18/2006
Event Description
I was participating in a departmental hose test in rear parking lot of our fire station. We were in the process of testing some of our LDH 5" supply hose, approximately 250' in total length. We were all wearing PPE per departmental SOG. A [brand deleted, sexless]LDH gate valve was attached to the end of the line. This valve had a wheel type handle with a protuding handle facing upright. The valve was cracked open to bleed air from the hose line. The hose line was attached to our 100' Ladder Tower's pump. The line was slowly charged to fill line at hydrant pressure ( approx 50-60 psi static ). The air bled from the line and I began closing valve. At this time water began exiting from around retaining nut at the top of the screw yoke on the valve assembly. The valve was almost completely shut and I signaled another engineer to shut down the line. Before that took place the valve stem failed and shot out of the appliance. I still had a grasp on the wheel at time of the failure and it ejected approximately 2 feet out of the appliance. The line was being shut down as this was occurring. The appliance was removed and taken out of service. Hose testing resumed with a [brand deleted, sexless] to 2 1/2" threaded adapter with a 2 1/2" fog nozzle after this occurred. The test was completed with no other problems.
Lesson Learned
Always be aware of your surroundings and potential for equipment failure. Never at any time place your body or head over any appliance of this type while under pressure. Always have pump panel attended during any hose test with communication at all time with the operator. Always wear proper PPE when testing hose.
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