Tanker accidents can be prevented
Rick Bolly
Captain
Friendship Volunteer Fire Department
Ocala, Florida
Dale Perry`s “Tanker Operations: Special Handling Required” (March 1998) was right on target. The statistics on tanker accidents are totally unacceptable and clearly indicate a system failure. The trend will be reversed only when department leaders recognize that training and clearly defined response procedures are the solutions.
Many departments may lack qualified trainers. The training of new drivers may not include sufficient information for operating tanker apparatus safely. Worse yet, the amount of practical skills training may be seriously lacking. And finally, it appears that little or no attention is paid to adrenaline flow and how a firefighter can recognize and deal with it. In my 36 years in the fire service, I have seen many instances at all levels where not learning how to control one`s adrenaline has led to unwanted results.
As training officer for our station, I have instituted what could be considered minimal training for tanker drivers. This policy was put in place after we experienced a tanker rollover; we wanted to keep such an incident from happening again. Fortunately, the driver was not injured; however, the truck was a total loss.
Our tanker is the LAST piece of equipment firefighters can be certified to drive. We start them out on a small brush truck and move them up to the engines and finally–if they qualify–to the tanker. The training consists of classroom instruction and several hours of practical skills training with a trainer. All members are instructed fully in maintenance, operation, department policies, and the psychology of driving an emergency vehicle. Members must pass a final road test with the training officer. Unless proficiency can be mastered, a member cannot be certified.
New drivers are not allowed to respond to emergencies immediately. They start with details such as driving when returning from an incident, drills, and special details. When certified to drive Code Three response, they must have another firefighter with them, preferably an officer. To the extent possible, we attempt to avoid having personnel drive alone. Finally, our tanker is governor-limited to 50 miles per hour.
Doing the above will not guarantee that an accident will not occur. This policy is intended to minimize the possibility of an accident and make everyone as safe as possible. The record can and must get better.
