Incident Report

Subject:                         Hydrant Cover Failure

Date of Email reporting Incident:   Tue 17/06/2003 14:07

Report Detail:

Hydrant Cover Failure

Please note a recent incident on our facility which could very easily have resulted in an injury. Thankfully the fire-fighter was unhurt.  I have removed the name of the plant and the personnel as this does not add anything to the learning.

Upon handover at XXX Plant this morning I was informed that fire-fighter XXXXX in an attempt to open Hydrant TV133, stood on the metal plate covering an underlying valve. The metal plate subsequently failed and fire-fighter XXXX fell approx 5ft to the bottom of the pit.

Station Commander XXXXXX had assurance from fire-fighter XXXX  (who is an Ambulance Technician) that he was not injured, or hurt. Upon relief at the job 'D' shift returned to station then begun their rest period.

I made contact with XXXX Plant Manager  (Tel XXXXX) and informed him of what had happened and took him to see the area, which has subsequently been taped off. The maintenance contract company (XXXX) representative was asked to attend the scene, which he did and he told me that he had placed an extension key on the Hydrant valve to enable operation from the roadside. This extension key is missing and was reported missing on the last inspection.

Immediate Actions:

All duty Crew Commanders informed of incident and requested to speak immediately with crews to reiterate the need for a dynamic risk assessment when operating Valves, Sumps and Hydrants etc. Take into consideration safe access to valve, ease of operation and position of operator when opening / closing equipment (where possible DO NOT stand on covers).