Monday, April 11, 2011

Cuprum Eight Foot Aluminum Stepladder Failure

MASE Product Failure Injury Report

Product involved: Cuprum Eight-Foot Aluminum Stepladder

What happened:  A man was descending this ladder.  As he placed his foot on the sixth step, the front legs of the ladder fractured, causing the ladder to collapse, and send the person descending the ladder falling to the ground.  The legs of the ladder were straight and not bent.  The ladder failed at riveted connections.  Hairline cracks were found at other riveted connections.

Injuries: Broken right lower leg

Recommendations:  Ensure material consistency in product, use aluminum of high enough strength to withstand forces encountered during use, strengthen ladder to reduce racking characteristics of ladder.

OSHA/Standard violations?: Unknown