Safety Issues
Posted by Johnnie from Winfield, MO, US on July 3, 2007
We have a 50ft aerial truck that has weld cracks near the topmost hand rails. Should this apparatus be removed from service until repairs are made?
Any signs of fatigue on any aerial device should be well documented and inspected for firefighter safety. In the event you (Fire Department personnel) made these findings, they should be brought to the attention of senior Officers first. At that time, it could be decided within to place this truck out-of-service until a 3rd-Party inspection service (i.e. "UL", or equivalent) can make a full aerial inspection. Once all findings have been made, the inspectors also suggest what repairs are needed in order to be certified safe for use. If the aerial has water-way capabilities, it could remain in "limited" service as a raised master stream device, but until all issues are addressed...you may want to limit any man-power on the ladder itself.









