Joseph M. Patterson

Firefighter/EMT Patterson and 2 other firefighters were in the process of draining compressed air from a number of used Self-Contained Underwater Breathing Apparatus (SCUBA) air cylinders in preparation for valve removal and hydrostatic testing.  In some cases, the cylinder valve was inoperable, so a firefighter was partially loosening the pressure-relief burst disc plugs on these cylinder valves.  In the process of draining a cylinder with a loosened plug, the plug separated from the cylinder and the air in the cylinder began to rapidly vent through the opening.  The cylinder became airborne and struck a wall, shearing off the cylinder valve.  The cylinder continued to be airborne, glancing off of an apparatus and striking Firefighter/EMT Patterson in the head.

Firefighters immediately came to the aid of Firefighter/EMT Patterson and he was flown by medical helicopter to a regional hospital.  Firefighter/EMT Patterson was pronounced dead at the hospital.  The cause of death was reported to be blunt force trauma.

For additional information regarding this incident, please refer to NIOSH Fire Fighter Fatality Investigation and Prevention Program report F2018-10 at https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/fire/pdfs/face201810.pdf