hmmm
I found this today, on the removable power cord for an EZ-8 Drum Sander.
I have so many questions...
First of all, am I understanding this right: Do not use this in areas where anaesthetics are administered?
....Why not?
What happened, where that oddly specific label became necessary?
Just the power cord? (It's a 50' cord that adapts a 6" twist-lock pigtail into a standard 15amp american outlet) Or the whole sander?
12 replies
maybe it is for power cord specifically, and the same type is used for hospital equipment. some of (modern) anesthetics are powerful solvents but not particularly flammable. maybe it also has something to do with potential extra oxygen (or nitrous oxide) content in air
That makes more sense than it being about the sander; but even in the context of a hospital, it still seems really wierd to call out anaesthesiology specifically and label what's essentially an extension cord with it.
There are solvents used in lots of fields, both medical and otherwise, I don't see why 'anaesthetizing locations' would be on the tag and not a warning more specific to the actual hazard (solvents, if that's it).
apparently it's NFPA (american fire safety code) thing. these regulations might have been written when inhalational anesthetics were flammable. also keep in mind that people under anesthesia can't move and that was also probably a factor
Not - AT ALL - what you meant; but for some reason this gave me a mental image of someone using the floor sander and then comically ragdolling to the floor, as if all of their muscles were just switched off like a light, while the sander drives off out of scene....
Gotta be careful, sanding floors around anaesthetics. Dangerous stuff.
Because Oxygen is highly flammable and used in said facilities. The cord is probably not up to the high standard required for medical facilities. And as for the cryptic language - this cord manufacturer might just deliver a major part of their production to medical facilities, and they don't care to add or remove labels.
Surprised to see it where I found it, but I guess there's a reason. (Also explains why the replacements are $120+)
I do think a warning label that leaves you unsure what the problem is, is a terrible warning. Just put 'not for use in oxygen rich environments' or something similarly clear on it.
Not rated well enough to guarantee no sparks in a more flammable environment (probably more specifically flammable gasses)?
Maybe, but I would think that would be a less cryptic 'fire hazard' label. (There are fire hazard labels on the machine) This is... Oddly specific.
Also; this tool can actually produce a flammable/explosive environment (warm, airborn, flamable dust), which is a hazard I have to explicitly warn against when renting it to people.
I seriously thought they slipped a German word on an English label and mentally just skipped over it with a “what does that word even mean?” Wasn’t till I looked at it again I realized it was an English word and made even less sense.
Every sign has a history
...I might be drunk... but maybe it means don't use it to make specific parts of your body numb, like by the vibrations?
Don't use the floor sander to jiggle my balls. Duly noted.