Inspection Detail

Note: The following inspection has not been indicated as closed. OSHA citation items will be posted 30 (thirty) days after the employer receives the citation(s), except in cases of significant public interest. Posted citation items reflect any amendments to citations that are the result of a prompt settlement, which OSHA encourages. Employers and employee representatives will continue to receive copies of the citation(s) upon issuance.

Inspection: 1496416.015 - San Francisco Fire Dept

Inspection Information - Office: San Francisco District Office

Investigation Summary

At 11:00 a.m. on October 7, 2020, a local fire department employee was participating in a standpipe drill at the department local training center. The employee was on the 3rd floor turning on a water valve near the fire escape. The standpipe outlet was approximately a foot away beyond the fire escape railing. The Y-outlet itself had two outlets to accommodate the attachment of 2 hoses. It is a policy that the outer outlet that is furthest away from the fire escape be connected and it was so connected. Partway through the drill, for reasons unknown, the employee went from the floor onto the fire escape and turned on the lever for the 2nd outlet of the Y-valve (which had no hose attached). This caused water to flow out the valve at 100 psi, hitting the employee and pushing him off balance and backwards over the railing. He fell approximately 27 feet to the ground, suffering blunt force head trauma and was killed.

Keywords: Blunt force, Blunt force trauma, Fall, Fall Protection, Fire Brigade/Department, Fire Escape, Fire Ext System, Fire Fighter, Head, High Pressure, High Pressure Pipe, Pressure Piping, Pressure Release, Skull, Training, Valve, Water, Water Hose, Water Pipe