Grain bin and auger system Fatality

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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Davidson Aluminum Stepladder

MASE Product Failure Injury Report

Product involved: Davidson Type III Model 527-06 aluminum ladder.

What happened:  Prior to the accident, the ladder was positioned approximately parallel to the wall. The front and rear feet of the ladder were approximately three inches away from the wall, with the wall to the right of the ladder. User fell.  After the fall, the ladder was lying on its side on the floor. Ladder user was lying on the floor in front of the ladder. After the accident, it was observed that the left rear ladder rail was bent.

Injuries: Unknown

Recommendations: Increase ladder stability to decrease racking of ladder

OSHA/Standard violations?:No

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Ford Tractor Injury

MASE Product Failure Injury Report

Product involved Ford Model 6600 tractor with front-end loader attached

What happened: Tractor operator traveling on a slight slope with a load of dirt in the front-end loader.  He raised the bucket as he approached the dump location, which raised the center of gravity to the point where the tractor overturned to the side.

Injuries: Death

Recommendations: Roll Over Protective Structure (ROPS) and a seat belt

OSHA/Standard violations: None found

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Red Lobster Slip-&-Fall Injury

MASE Product Failure Injury Report

Product involved: Elevated booth in Red Lobster

What happened:  Restaurant patron exiting elevated booth, feet slipped out from under her

Injuries: Unknown

Recommendations: Put booths on floor level to eliminate this hazard.

OSHA/Standard violations? No

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Bleacher Fall Injury

MASE Product Failure Injury Report

Product involved: School bleachers

What happened: Girl was walking up bleachers. She stepped out of the aisle to let a person pass, then stepped onto a bleacher seat, and fell.  She stated that the seat popped forward when she stepped on the bleacher seat.

Injuries: She had hurt her lower back and shin.

Findings: There was no evidence of loose fasteners. There was no evidence of maintenance performed by the school after the accident to fix something related to the accident.  Appears to be a slip and fall case.

OSHA/Standard violations?  No

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Murray Lawnmower Injury

MASE Product Failure Injury Report

Product involved: Murray 12.5 hp riding mower

What happened: While loading a lawnmower in a truck by manually lifting it, the blade engagement lever was actuated, with the motor running.

Injuries: Finger amputation

Recommendations: A positive locking blade engagement mechanism to prevent inadvertent activation

OSHA/Standard violations: None found

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DeWalt ½"-drill Injury

MASE Product Failure Injury Report

Product involved: DeWalt ½"-drill model DW 235G

What happened:  Man was using the drill without a handle when the high torque caused injury to his hand. The handle had been lost and was unavailable.

Injuries: To hand

Recommendations: Make handle permanently attached.

OSHA/Standard violations? No

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