Text For Citation: 01 Item/Group: 001A Hazard: EXPLOSION

North Carolina General Statute 95-129(1) of the Occupational Safety and Health Act of North Carolina: The employer did not furnish each of his employees conditions of employment and a place of employment free from recognized hazards that were causing or likely to cause death or serious physical harm to employees in that employees were exposed to an improperly tested fire hose used in an emergency situation: a)fire scene, 7129 Linda Ray Rd., Zebulon, October 3, 2002 - where a Rolesville Rural Fire Department firefighter was operating Tanker #158 during a tanker shuttle assist to Hopkins Fire Department and was also in a "relay-pumping/nurse feeding" operation (relaying water from pumper-tanker to tanker) with Wendell Fire Department and in doing so, used a 25-foot piece of 3-inch double jacket hose that was not service tested properly to ensure that the hose did not slip from its coupling. Some feasible and acceptable abatement methods to correct this hazard are to provide a written policy on service testing hose, ensure all firefighters testing hose are trained on how to do so, and maintain accurate hose test records according to NFPA 1962, Chapter 3. (Reference: Section 5-5.2.4 of the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 1962 Standard for the Care, Use, and Service Testing of Fire Hose Including Couplings and Nozzles, 1998 Edition).