Seat Belt Re-Fit for some 2.2D Tankers

CFA has begun a retrofit of seat belt kits on some of the older 2.2D tankers, which it anticipates completing during the next two weeks. This follows the discovery of metal fatigue at the mounting point of the seat belt stem on the tanker that was involved in a road accident at Clonbinane last week.

Further inspections were conducted on 30 other Isuzu-manufactured 2.2D Tankers built circa 1988. Of these tankers inspected, 80 per cent had the potential for seat belt failure due to the presence of a similar failure point as that which occurred in the accident.

Acting Chief Officer Steve Warrington said 120 tankers will now get replacement seat belt assemblies on both the driver’s and outboard passenger seats of these 2.2D Isuzu trucks. Approximately 111 were manufactured pre-1988 and were fitted with lap belts only, which do not have any problems with their seat belts.

Operations Officers have begun to liaise with CFA brigades where 2.2D appliances will need the seat belt retrofit. Once notified, brigades are only to turn-out in these tankers where it is the only available vehicle that can readily respond to the emergency at hand.

Operations Managers will direct brigades to use stand-in tankers, other suitable appliances on station and neighbouring brigade support as the preference to operating any 2.2D Tanker.

At present, it appears that the 120 2.2D tankers are the only appliances affected. Further inspections of other similar aged vehicles in the fleet (different brands and models) are currently being planned.