Readers occasionally contact me in response to these columns. I recently corresponded with Michael Fischer of the Kellen Co. about the window-screen problem.
Machine guarding protects people from injury during a machine’s normal operation. There are four basic approaches to machine guarding: barrier guards, guarding devices, guarding by location, and warnings.
Every year in the United States nearly 5,000 toddlers fall out of windows, resulting in casualties up to and including spinal injury, paralysis, and death. About 20 children die annually from this type of fall.
There are many theories, but most lead to the question: “Who was watching the store during repairs?” In past columns, I often refer to hazard analysis, a technique for proactively avoiding product failures and unsafe conditions.