Re-printed with permission from
Markel Insurance Company
www.martialartsinsurance.com
From their "Risk Management News" Newsletter
- December 2007
Beware of Door
Hazards
Heavy wooden, metal, and glass doors can
be hazardous to young students. The National Safety Council
estimates there are 300,000 finger injuries each year, with
15,000 of those resulting in amputations. Most of these
injuries happen to children under age 14.
When a door closes, it can exert up to 40
tons of pressure at the hinge area, which can easily snip
off a child's finger. Installing finger-pinch protection
devices is one way to prevent finger entrapment injuries at
your school.
Two vendors of these devices are:
www.fingershieldsafety.com and
www.fingersafe.com
Other finger safety tips include:
• Ensure door hinges
are firmly installed.
• Adjust automatic door closing mechanisms so doors close slowly, giving children time to remove their
fingers.
• Inspect the ends of panic hardware bars and replace or repair them as needed.
• Inspect wall-mounted devices like fire
extinguishers, glass wall tiles, and signs to ensure they are securely attached. If
these items fall, they can smash fingers and toes.
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