Post by mudgrip4 on Aug 29, 2004 16:19:21 GMT 11
2-3 weeks ago an Isuzu club member was involved in a recovery accident which almost cost him his life. It was not an Isuzu (or any other) club trip, and this member - also a member of the Landrover club - had his Isuzu vehicle correctly set up according to the Landover club's specifications. The other vehicle involved was not.
The other vehicle, a Toyota, became stuck in deep water in the Waipara river near Christchurch - the bottom unstable after recent floods. As the vehicle had no snorkel, it took in water through the breathing system and totalled the motor. The Isuzu man walked into the deep water, felt for the front hook, fitted his towrope over it and tried to tow the Toyota out. There was one hell of a crash into the back of the Isuzu bighorn and on inspection, the tow hook had detached from the front of the Toyota and with the tow rope had smashed into the back of the Isuzu, hitting the small right side rear door. The impact was inches below the glass level and in line with the driver's head.
Had the Isuzu man been using a snatch strap with the extra energy involved, the hook could easily have passed through the rear door. As it was, with the impact point of the hook just below the glass level, the driver missed death by just 6 inches. And the Isuzu could SO EASILY have been in a tow position slightly raised at the front or sitting lower in the back, the hook trajectory altered - and this accident fatal. It turned out the Toyota owner had not fitted his hook correctly with 12mm rated bolts, but had instead welded it on, and this weld had broken under recovery pressures. A hook with the appearance of safety, but actually a near lethal missile.
This is a mighty wakeup call for the gent concerned, for me and for everyone. It is no anecdotal story. It just happened with a club member. It alerts us to the critical need for 100% safety AT ALL TIMES, and just how easily fatalities can happen. Maybe there are a few points we can think about:
1. Take total responsibility to check out EVERY truck's safety gear esp hooks when we go on a trip - club trip or not - esp when not. And DON'T LET THEM GO WITH YOU if they're not properly set up. Literally, you take your life in your hands in helping an unsafe vehicle, esp when unaware its unsafe.
2. Don't rely on previous track gradings. This track - normally a 2.5 to 3 grade - had risen to a grade 5 after recent rain, and this time totalled a motor and nearly killed a man.
3. Several months ago I spent time with Dave M (both also belong to established clubs) drafting the safety notes in the section above. Andrew, at this time I recommend again very strongly that this club moves to adopt the safety equipment standards followed by most established 4x4 clubs in NZ - and no doubt many in Aus. These are very simple - rated hooks fitted to the chassis with 12mm 8.8 standard hi tensile bolts. Also, strong recovery straps ( round 8000kg rating) or equivalent tow ropes, fire extinguishers, medical kit, shovel or spade, and rated D shackle. Unrated Isuzu hooks attached with 10mm bolts will be better than the welded hook above, but are simply not up to the pressures involved in a difficult recovery - they become unsafe.
4. I recommend - if club members still need it - a max one month's grace period for new members to get gear up to specifications. For most clubs - already well aware what can happen with improperly prepared vehicles - there is no 'grace' period. If people are not willing to ensure safety for others, they are not invited to be members. It's just a matter of education for them. It may initially sound dictatorial, but these clear standards save life.
We've had some of this debate before, but this sobering accident has firmed my own trip safety views and may do so for others. I won't be taking anyone on any trip from this time if they are not set up, unless it is a simple and certain grade 1-2 like a known dry farm track. I am about to lead a second trip for the Chch Isuzu club, but I'm thinking this will be the last trip I take for the Isuzu club until we have adopted full safety standards.
Full safety standard equipment costs about as much as one mudgrip tyre and is of far greater importance off road. It gives us all and esp the trip leaders and those involved in difficult recoveries assurance that any recovery can be undertaken without equipment failure resulting in injury or death. Even rated gear (e.g. straps)however will occasionally fail under maximum recovery pressures so there is certainly no room for lesser gear standards.
In light of the near fatality, I raise again these thoughts re need for max safety. Major accidents can generally be averted through high safety standards and I recommend this club move to established equipment standards asap. Over to all for discussion - Mike A.
.
The other vehicle, a Toyota, became stuck in deep water in the Waipara river near Christchurch - the bottom unstable after recent floods. As the vehicle had no snorkel, it took in water through the breathing system and totalled the motor. The Isuzu man walked into the deep water, felt for the front hook, fitted his towrope over it and tried to tow the Toyota out. There was one hell of a crash into the back of the Isuzu bighorn and on inspection, the tow hook had detached from the front of the Toyota and with the tow rope had smashed into the back of the Isuzu, hitting the small right side rear door. The impact was inches below the glass level and in line with the driver's head.
Had the Isuzu man been using a snatch strap with the extra energy involved, the hook could easily have passed through the rear door. As it was, with the impact point of the hook just below the glass level, the driver missed death by just 6 inches. And the Isuzu could SO EASILY have been in a tow position slightly raised at the front or sitting lower in the back, the hook trajectory altered - and this accident fatal. It turned out the Toyota owner had not fitted his hook correctly with 12mm rated bolts, but had instead welded it on, and this weld had broken under recovery pressures. A hook with the appearance of safety, but actually a near lethal missile.
This is a mighty wakeup call for the gent concerned, for me and for everyone. It is no anecdotal story. It just happened with a club member. It alerts us to the critical need for 100% safety AT ALL TIMES, and just how easily fatalities can happen. Maybe there are a few points we can think about:
1. Take total responsibility to check out EVERY truck's safety gear esp hooks when we go on a trip - club trip or not - esp when not. And DON'T LET THEM GO WITH YOU if they're not properly set up. Literally, you take your life in your hands in helping an unsafe vehicle, esp when unaware its unsafe.
2. Don't rely on previous track gradings. This track - normally a 2.5 to 3 grade - had risen to a grade 5 after recent rain, and this time totalled a motor and nearly killed a man.
3. Several months ago I spent time with Dave M (both also belong to established clubs) drafting the safety notes in the section above. Andrew, at this time I recommend again very strongly that this club moves to adopt the safety equipment standards followed by most established 4x4 clubs in NZ - and no doubt many in Aus. These are very simple - rated hooks fitted to the chassis with 12mm 8.8 standard hi tensile bolts. Also, strong recovery straps ( round 8000kg rating) or equivalent tow ropes, fire extinguishers, medical kit, shovel or spade, and rated D shackle. Unrated Isuzu hooks attached with 10mm bolts will be better than the welded hook above, but are simply not up to the pressures involved in a difficult recovery - they become unsafe.
4. I recommend - if club members still need it - a max one month's grace period for new members to get gear up to specifications. For most clubs - already well aware what can happen with improperly prepared vehicles - there is no 'grace' period. If people are not willing to ensure safety for others, they are not invited to be members. It's just a matter of education for them. It may initially sound dictatorial, but these clear standards save life.
We've had some of this debate before, but this sobering accident has firmed my own trip safety views and may do so for others. I won't be taking anyone on any trip from this time if they are not set up, unless it is a simple and certain grade 1-2 like a known dry farm track. I am about to lead a second trip for the Chch Isuzu club, but I'm thinking this will be the last trip I take for the Isuzu club until we have adopted full safety standards.
Full safety standard equipment costs about as much as one mudgrip tyre and is of far greater importance off road. It gives us all and esp the trip leaders and those involved in difficult recoveries assurance that any recovery can be undertaken without equipment failure resulting in injury or death. Even rated gear (e.g. straps)however will occasionally fail under maximum recovery pressures so there is certainly no room for lesser gear standards.
In light of the near fatality, I raise again these thoughts re need for max safety. Major accidents can generally be averted through high safety standards and I recommend this club move to established equipment standards asap. Over to all for discussion - Mike A.
.
