Safety, Emergency Procedures, and Incident Management
Domain 8 is the worst-day domain: failures while the aerial is occupied, electrical contact, weather, and the command structure that keeps the operation from making things worse.
Emergency procedures
- Hydraulic or power failure: stop, secure the controls, use the emergency lowering pump or valve in the manufacturer's sequence, and lower personnel to a safe landing before anything else.
- Contact with power lines: everyone stays in the basket, nobody touches the apparatus or the ground, the operator warns others away by radio, and the utility is called to de-energize. Do not try to lower clear of the lines unless directed.
- Ground collapse, fire impingement, or wind over the limit: cease operation, withdraw the aerial, and reposition.
- Lost communication: stop movement and re-establish contact by the agreed backup method - hand signals, runner, or radio relay.
Incident management
- One operator at the turntable controls; the aerial moves only on that person's command.
- The operator stays with the apparatus, remains accountable to the IC, and reports aerial status.
- After any emergency, the aerial is inspected and the event documented before return to service.
Worked example. The engine stalls with two firefighters in the basket at 55 ft. The operator holds the boom stationary, checks for a simple cause, then uses the emergency hydraulic pump to lower the basket per the manual while telling the IC what is happening. Nobody climbs out onto the ladder, and the apparatus is not moved until the basket is empty and the boom stowed.
Traps. Two people fighting over the controls; hand-pumping without knowing the emergency sequence; bailing out of the basket near downed lines; returning the unit to service after an overstress event without inspection and documentation.