Apparatus safety involves three key areas: operation, maintenance and specifications. In the February 2005 issue of In Service Online, we discussed five important points about safe apparatus operation. In the September 2005 issue, we discussed five important maintenance points. In this issue, we conclude with five important points you should follow when writing specifications for new apparatus.

1] Always Comply with NFPA Standards. Not sometimes, not when you have the money, but always. Failure to comply with established NFPA standards can potentially place your department in serious liability if someone is injured or killed. NFPA 1901 applies to structure pumpers, aerials, rescues, hazmats, quick attacks, tankers and many others. NFPA 1906 applies to wildland apparatus. These standards contain requirements for vehicle and component performance, load ratings, safety factors, dimensions, illumination and many other important specifications.

In the last 15 years, the NFPA standards have been significantly upgraded to require several new safety features including fully enclosed seating positions, slip-resistant step surfaces, antilock braking systems, improved warning light and reflective material placement and many others. Don't delete any of the components specified in the NFPA standards and don't deal with a manufacturer who offers to omit them to save you money.

2] Seek Input from Everyone. If writing apparatus specifications in your department has become a privileged job reserved for a select few, ask yourself what you're getting by doing that — or more importantly, what you're not getting.

What you're not getting are important insights that may affect the safety of the apparatus. The more people who provide input, the more problems you may avoid. At a minimum, you should include input from firefighters, people in the shop, one or more chief officers, and your city attorney or legal counsel. Ask them to focus on specifications to improve safety. And don't overlook your apparatus dealer, who can often tell you about safety-related specifications used by other departments in the area.

3] Provide the Manufacturer with Complete Information. Some departments feel their only responsibility is to specify the nuts and bolts of an apparatus and that it's up to the dealer or manufacturer to fill in all the other information. That's a mistake that can lead to some big disappointments and potential disasters.

Some of the biggest safety problems result from apparatus built without complete information about the intended use, operating conditions or future growth. Among the critical items departments need to specify are the altitude of the area, the steepness of any grades, the required turning circle, the total weight and volume of loose equipment and the total number of personnel to be carried. Smart departments often add at least 20% to the figures for loose equipment weight and volume to allow for future expansion over the life of the apparatus.

4] Consider the Many Safety Options. The NFPA standards already require several safety features as standard, but there are many others available as options to meet specific hazards. For example, several custom fire apparatus cab and chassis manufacturers offer side air bags and other features as part of a complete cab occupant protection system to protect against side impacts. One manufacturer offers a rollover stability system that automatically reduces the engine speed and applies the brakes when it senses dangerous side forces during turns or sudden lane changes. Departments that often have to operate in areas with narrow roadways may want to specify a top-mount pump panel to keep the operator safely out of traffic. All departments should consider specifying area illumination on the front, rear and both sides of the apparatus to help spot hidden holes, downed electric lines and other hazards on the scene.

5] Get the Manuals. If this sounds trivial, it isn't. If you don't have the operating manuals, you won't know how to properly operate an apparatus and all its components and systems. If you don't have the maintenance manuals, you won't know how to properly maintain it. And if you aren't operating and maintaining an apparatus properly, you potentially have an unsafe apparatus.

You need all the manuals for all the components and systems. In some cases, the manuals may be optional, and you may have to specify them at the time the apparatus is ordered and pay extra for them — do it, it's worth it. If the manuals are only available on a compact disk, determine if you have the means to read them and print them out if necessary. If they are available only online, determine if you have the means to get Internet access — in some cases this may require a password. If the manufacturer cannot provide the manuals, ask yourself why you're doing business with them.

Specifying a new apparatus is a big job, and an important part of that job should be a consideration of the health and safety of the people who use the apparatus. The safety slogan "Everyone Goes Home" applies to many activities in the fire service — writing apparatus specifications should be one of them.