On the FE site: Important NIOSH report, Quick vote...

Comment

Comment by Bill Peters on May 9, 2008 at 11:01am

The aerial in this case was transported pinned to the 2nd secton, thus leaving the tip clear for rescue. The pin was removed at the scene when the ladder was bedded and was supposed to be reinserted in the tip mode for water tower operations.
The aerial was raised by another member who was unaware that the pin was supposed to have been changed. The waterway stayed at the 2nd section. When it was charged, it became a big hydraulic piston and shot the whole monitor and last section of pipe out the end of the ladder, fatally injuring the Deputy Chief.

Comment by Tom Slater on May 9, 2008 at 10:39am

The article said that the aerial was transported in the rescue mode and I am wondering if the waterway was charged when still in this position? It did not say if the control was switched to water before it was pressurized. Should the control not be in the rescue position when operating the aerial to prevent something like this happening? It cannot "launch" out if it is already at the tip. At our department the aerial is always bedded in the waterway position and when used for rescue the operator would walk the end of the aerial to switch the control before raising.