Inspection Detail

Inspection: 103805214 - City Of New Haven Fire Department

Inspection Information - Office: Connecticut Department Of Labor, Division Of Occupational Safety & Health

Investigation Summary

At approximately 1:05 a.m. on February 26, 1992, Employee #1, a fire fighter of New Haven Truck Company #4, fell off a roof. According to other fire fighters, visibility was zero due to heavy smoke and Employee #1 was walking on the roof rather than crawling as he should have been. Employee #1 fell approximately 25 ft into a blind alley between two buildings. He had to be extricated into the alley window of the building on fire and brought out to the street through the first floor. The rescue took 15 to 30 minutes before Employee #1 was removed to EMS. He sustained serious closed head injuries. As of March 12, 1992, Employee #1 remained, unresponsive, on a ventilator. Employee #2, a fire fighter from Engine #10, sustained a back contusion after falling approximately 10 ft from a fire escape while trying to access the second floor in order to contain the fire (this occurred prior to Employee #1's rescue from the alley). One section of railing was missing from the fire escape.

Keywords: FIREFIGHTER, HEAD, ROOF, INADEQUATE MAINT, WORK RULES, FIRE ESCAPE, BACK, FALL, CONTUSION, POOR VISIBILITY