MASE Product Failure Injury Report
Product involved: David Manufacturing Company (DMC)/ The GSI group (Grain Systems)
What happened: Two men were unloading grain bins. One man took a load of grain out. Other worker stated he was going to let sweep auger empty the grain bin out until it wouldn't move any more grain. First worker returned, helped second worker for short time, then left. He returned 3-5 minutes later to find his coworker unresponsive on the bin floor. Auger shaft had fractured, sending the broken metal part shooting at a high rate of speed which impacted the worker in the head.
Injuries: Death
Recommendations: Needed to be guarded, have warnings, “Deadman” switch to control the power with personnel in bin, and interlocks. Also auger could not resist the predictable cyclic stresses acting on the auger - redesign could solve this problem.
OSHA/Standard violations?: No
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