Overcomiing Entanglement Hazards

Comment

Comment by DALE G. PEKEL on February 19, 2011 at 3:44pm

Thanks for the post Bobby,

 

Paul and Brian did a great job on the video, but I would also add the importance of attaching a lanyard to your cutting tools. It's true that it can be difficult to adjust the lanyard, but it's something that's easily overcome with training and wearing a pair of high quality firefighter gloves that provide better dexterity.

Losing your tool because you dropped it in a panic situation could be fatal if you needed to cut yourself or a partner free - A lanyard attached to your tool prevents this. If you choose not to use it that's fine, but at least it's there if you need it.......Refer to this NIOSH case study of a LODD that occurred in Houston on February 14, 2000 that claimed the lives of Lewis Mayo and Kim Smith due to a collapse of the roof and subsequent entanglement.
 

http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/fire/reports/face200013.html

 

Second FFs must take into account that wires could be energized and resorting to cutting immediately without the building being de-energized could make your situation even worse. I've been shocked by just 110 volts and it's not fun - Add in multiple shocks or 220 volts and you could be in a world of hurt that's worse than the entanglement itself - Just something to keep in mind.

 

Dale G. Pekel