IAFF National Fire Fighter Near-Miss Report of the Month

PPV Blower Blades Shear Off While Repositioning

This National Near-Miss Reporting System report discusses a PPV blower that was moved while operating. Four of the six fan blades were sheared off. This could happen in any department with this type of blower and a lack of training. A picture is worth a thousand words and we have the pictures.

There are a number of different PPV blowers in the field today. Some have plastic fan blades and some have metal. It’s important to understand the force and power at work. The manufacturers create warnings and recommendations for a reason. It’s critical to know the limits of equipment and recognize the potential for injury when used against the manufacturer’s advice. This report and pictures create the visual effect for what can go wrong.

“The fan started without hesitation, and nothing seemed out of the ordinary. I shut off the choke and started to reposition the fan to face the doorway. In doing so, I pushed at the wheel and pulled the handle in the opposite direction to get the fan to spin toward the doorway. At this time, the fan made a loud noise and was no longer spinning. I thought the motor was starting to seize so I covered up and shut down the throttle. It wasn’t until I shut down the motor that I realized that the shroud was shredded in a few areas. I found four out of six fan blades were sheared off. I found some pieces of the blades both inside and outside the shroud. The blades were made of composite metal. A big lesson that was learned is not to move a PPV fan while it is running. ”

To read the entire report go to, www.firefighternearmiss.com, click on search reports, and in the keyword search type “PPV fan.” Curser down to report number 08-667.
To view the pictures go to, www.firefighternearmiss.com, click on the resources tab, scroll down to videos and photos, click on more, scroll down to 08-667 PPV Blower failure.
Discussion Questions:
1. Fire fighters, have you ever moved a PPV blower while it was operating?

2. Fire fighters, are you familiar with the manufacturer’s recommendations for your PPV blowers?

3. Officers, what are the training procedures for this equipment and do they include the manufacturer’s warnings and operating manuals?

4. Chiefs, when new equipment is purchased, do the manufacturers provide training or videos and are they provided to the entire department? Where are the manufacturer’s recommendations and operating manuals kept in your department? (Most can be obtained on the Internet)



Note: The questions posed by the reviewers are designed to generate discussion and thought in the name of promoting fire fighter safety. They are not intended to pass judgment on the actions and performance of individuals in the reports.

Stay safe
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