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Tool Box Talks |
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It’s a common, everyday device,
inexpensive and easy to use. It’s used in businesses, homes, and leisure
activities, but it possesses an inherent danger, one that has caused injury, and
in some cases, permanent vision loss. What is this seemingly harmless device
with a potential to cause lasting damage in the blink of an eye? It’s
a bungee cord! Bungee cords are made of elastic material
with metal J-shaped or S-shaped hooks on each end. They’re used to tie down
or secure equipment, restrain cargo, act as barriers, hold items in place,
and can be conveniently locked or fastened to another structure. Bungee cord
use is particularly attractive since the hooks are versatile connectors that
can be easily applied with one hand. The usefulness of bungee cords is well
known, but their potential for injury is not. One of the characteristics of a
bungee cord is its stored energy which can be suddenly released. The heavy
elastic cords from which bungees are made contain tremendous force when they
recoil, particularly when they’re stretched beyond their recommended limits.
This sudden release of stored energy results in a high speed flailing hazard
when: ·
the hook pulls out of the user’s hand as it’s being
stretched into place ·
the hook disengages from the attachment point ·
the attachment structure fails ·
the hook straightens out ·
the cord breaks
·
the hook detaches from the cord In each
of these situations, the free end of the bungee cord can recoil at speeds of
up to 60 miles per hour and produce significant injury or damage upon impact.
The American Medical Association has called for warning labels to be placed
on bungee cords, including information about the deterioration of the cords,
which can cause them to snap unexpectedly. Cracks in the cords significantly
increase the failure risks of the bungee. The
majority of bungee cord accidents involve the eye and are becoming an increasingly
common cause of both severe and penetrating eye injuries. In one hospital
study, more than half the patients seen in the emergency room for bungee
cord-sustained eye injuries required hospitalization for treatment of their
injury. Injuries included bleeding within the eye, lacerations to the eye,
traumatic cataracts, and tearing or detachment of the retina from the back of
the eye. Most victims with damaged eyes had a mild-to-serious loss of vision,
some had no useful vision, and some had injuries that were so severe that
their eye had to be surgically removed. How can
bungee cord injuries be prevented? Eye doctors who treat people with eye
injuries recommend replacing bungee cords with less volatile devices.
Possible alternatives to secure equipment are ropes, buckled nylon bands or
industrial plastic shrink-wrap. If bungee cord replacement is not possible,
use appropriate, face or eye protection, even for the few seconds it may take
to attach a bungee cord. If
workers will be allowed to use bungee cords in the course of their job, they
should first receive instruction in the safe use, and the consequences of
misuse, of bungee cords. They should be trained to use bungees with caution,
including: ·
using extreme caution when stretching the cord over a
load ·
securing hook ends carefully ·
never extending the cord beyond its capacity of
length or load ·
keeping the face and other vulnerable body parts away
from the cord's rebound path ·
never using bungee cords to hold a surface which
reacts to wind or air movement
Bungee
cord safety procedures should be strictly enforced or, in the blink of an
eye, an individual could loose an eye. |