OSHA Accident Investigation · Summary #221725286
LOS ANGELES COUNTY FIRE DEPARTMENT
PALMDALE, CA·
Event description
Employee is fatally injured in pneumatic loader tire explosi
Investigation abstract
At approximately 2:08 p.m. on June 14, 2024, LACFD was called out to assist with self-contained breathing apparatus. The explosion was caused by increased internal pressure in the tire from the fire and the ignition of flammable compounds. A citation was issued to the employer for failure to provide proper hazard identification, evaluation, and training on large equipment tire explosion risks. a front-end loader on fire. As the firefighters were combating the fire, the left rear tire of the loader exploded, fatally injuring Employee #1. Employee #1 was standing approximately 3 to 5 feet from the tire at the time of the explosion. The blast caused debris to be ejected over 300 feet, breaking the driver's side window of Fire Engine 93 (FE93). A coworker, also a firefighter, who was near Employee #1, was also injured by the explosion and was taken to a trauma center for evaluation but was released later. Employee #1, with 19 years of experience, was wearing full personal protective equipment, including a
Victim
-
#1 Fatality Age 52 M
- Event type
- 14
- Occupation code
- 417
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