Incident alert
ACTIVITY:
TRANSPORT / DELIVERY
SUB ACTIVITY:
MOBILE PLANT
TITLE
Aggregates Dumper Fire
COUNTRY OF ORIGIN
United Kingdom
ACCIDENT / INCIDENT DETAILS
A fire occurred on a Dumper -Cat 773E –model 2005, when it was parked up at the end of the shift at one of our operations in America. Investigation into the cause have identified that the auxiliary jump start battery cables, which run along the left front frame back toward the area of the left front suspension cylinder, had suffered deterioration whilst rubbing together over time. The battery cables pass over the steering hydraulic hoses inside the frame near the starter. The rubbing wore the insulation away on the positive battery cable and the rubber off the hydraulic hose. The two made contact and the fire started. Since this incident other trucks have been found with the same problem and could have caught fire.
ACCIDENT / INCIDENT IMAGES
LEARNING POINTS / ACTIONS TAKEN
Immediate Action Required
Even though this incident occurred on a dumper, it is advised that all vehicles with jump start equipment fitted, have the cables inspected immediately, paying particular attention to any that are in proximity of hydraulic or fuel hoses.
Longer Term Action
Where possible avoid securing cables and hoses together. Where it is necessary additional insulation sleeving must be used.
Note: If the isolator key had been used then it is very unlikely that this fire would have occurred.
All machinery should be electrically isolated when left unattended, removal of the isolator (where fitted) is part of the EPIC operator assessment.
Where practical all mobile plant should be parked with sufficient spacing to prevent a fire spreading to other vehicles or structures.
All mobile plant should be cleaned down and subject to a thorough visual inspection on a regular basis.
LEARNING POINTS / ACTIONS IMAGES
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