HID 14 • December 2001

Fire Fighter Deaths from

Tanker Truck Rollovers

Description of Hazard

Mobile water supply vehicles, known as tankers or tenders, are

widely used to transport water to areas beyond a water supply

system or where the water supply is inadequate. Incidents involving motor vehicles account for approximately 20% of

U.S. fire fighter deaths each year; cases involving tankers are

the most prevalent of these motor vehicle incidents. During

1977–1999, 73 deaths occurred in 63 crashesinvolving tankers.

Of those deaths, 54 occurred in 49 crashes in which tankers

rolled over (no collision), and 8 occurred in 6 crashes in which

the tankersleft the road (no collision). The other casesinvolved

collision with another vehicle (10 deathsin 7 crashes) and collision with stationary object(s) (1 death) [NFPA 2000].

Tanker drivers may not be fully aware that tanker trucks are

more difficult to control than passenger vehicles. A tanker truck

requires a much greater distance to stop. Tankers weigh substantially more, and their air brake systems take more time to

activate than the hydraulic/mechanical brake systems on

smaller passenger cars. The effect is influenced by the amount

of water the tanker is hauling and whether the tanker is baffled.

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
CASE STUDIES

Under the Fire Fighter Fatality Investigation and

Prevention Program, NIOSH investigated two separate incidents involving fire fighters who were

killed in tanker truck rollovers during 1999 and

2000 [NIOSH 2000a,b]. Both incidents involved

volunteer fire departments providing mutual aid

with water tanker trucks.

Case 1

On October 28, 1999, a Captain and a fire fighter

(the driver) responded to a mutual-aid call in a full,

elliptical-shaped, 1,800-gallon water tanker truck

equipped with baffles [NIOSH 2000a]. The tanker

was traveling west, and as it approached a curve,

the driver lost control. The vehicle drifted toward

the shoulder of the road asthe driver tried to correct

the direction of travel. Just past the curve, the

tanker veered off the road into a corn field. The

tanker rolled onto the passenger side and continued

to roll over several times (Figure 1). The driver was

ejected from the tanker. The Captain wastrapped in

the crushed, upside-down cab and had to be extricated. He was taken to a local hospital and died

7 dayslater. The driver wastaken to a local hospital

then flown by helicopter to a trauma center. He died

86 days after the incident.

Case 2

On January 17, 2000, a fire Chief died after responding to a mutual-aid call in a full, T-shaped,

641-gallon, handmade water tanker truck that was

not equipped with baffles and was attached to a

converted pickup truck [NIOSH 2000b]. The tanker

was traveling west when the Chief lost control of

the tanker as he approached a slight curve in the

road. Asthe tanker began to skid, the right tiresleft

the pavement and entered the shoulder. The tanker

continued on the shoulder until it entered a ditch

and became airborne. Next the tanker crossed a

lane on a side street, struck a center median, and

crossed a second lane on the side street. The tanker

then struck a guard rail and flipped end-over-end

until it landed in a concrete culvert. The Chief was

killed instantly.

Figure 1. Tanker truck involved in incident.
 

Recommendations for Prevention

To reduce the risk of tanker truck rollovers,

NIOSH recommends that fire departments take

the following precautions:

•	 Develop, implement, and enforce standard

operating procedures(SOPs) for emergency vehicles—particularly with regard to the use of

seat belts.

•	 Ensure that drivers have necessary driving

skills and experience and provide them with

periodic refresher training.

•	 Consider terrain, weather, and bridge and road

conditions when purchasing a mobile water

supply vehicle.

•	 Adhere to the requirements of NFPA 1915 for

keeping a vehicle on a maintenance schedule

and documenting the performance of the

maintenance [NFPA 2001].
•	 Inspect the complete vehicle at least once per

year to comply with Federal and State motor

vehicle regulations.

•	 Adhere to the requirements of NFPA 1901

for an approved mobile water supply vehicle

[NFPA 2001].

•	 Equip all vehicles with seat belts.

•	 Ensure that water tank capacity is adequate

and has proper tank mounting and sufficient

front and rear weight distribution.

•	 Ensure that the weight of the fully loaded vehicle does not exceed the gross axle weight

rating of any axle and the gross vehicle weight

rating of the chassis.

•	 Ensure that the center of gravity of the vehicle

does not exceed the chassis manufacturer’s

specified center of gravity.

•	 Provide proper baffles to control water movement for all vehicles equipped with watertanks.

•	 Verify that vehicles are of proper design and

have adequate suspension, steering, and braking ability.

All drivers should do the following:

•	 Recognize that they are responsible for the

safe and prudent operation of the vehicle under all conditions.

•	 Wear a seat belt when operating a vehicle.

•	 Take training to meet the job performance requirements stated in NFPA 1002 before driving and operating the vehicle [NFPA 2001].

•	 Take refresher driver training at least twice

per year.

•	 Understand the vehicle characteristics, capabilities, and limitations.

•	 Be aware of the potential for unpredictable

driving by the public (excessive speed, failure

to yield to emergency vehicles, inattentiveness, etc.).

•	 Adjustspeed when driving on wet or icy roads,

in darkness or fog, or under any other conditions that make emergency vehicle operation

especially hazardous.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

The principal contributor to this publication was

Nancy T. Romano, NIOSH, Division of Safety

Research. External reviews were provided by Rita

Fahy and Carl Peterson, National Fire Protection

Association; Heather Schafer, National Volunteer

Fire Council; Ralph Craven, Craven & Associates;

Michael Wilbur, Emergency Vehicle Response

Consulting.

REFERENCES

NFPA [2000]. Special analysis based on NFPA’s

Fire Incident Data Organization (FIDO). Quincy,

MA: National Fire Protection Association, Fire

Analysis and Research Division.

NFPA [2001]. National fire codes: a compilation of

NFPA codes, standards, recommended practices,

manuals and guides. Quincy, MA: National Fire

Protection Association.

NIOSH [2000a]. A captain and a fire fighter die

from injuries in a tanker rollover—Indiana.

Cincinnati, OH: U.S. Department of Health and

Human Services, Public Health Service, Centers

for Disease Control and Prevention, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, DHHS

(NIOSH) Publication No. F2000–10.

NIOSH [2000b]. Tanker rollover claims life of

volunteer fire chief—Missouri. Cincinnati, OH:

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services,

Public Health Service, Centers for Disease Control

and Prevention, National Institute for Occupational

Safety and Health, DHHS (NIOSH) Publication

No. F2000–18.

SAFER � HEALTHIER � PEOPLETM