This case involves an injury to a man due to a rapidly closing overhead door. The plaintiff was taking a tour of the defendant’s grocery store. The plaintiff came to the giant 14′ x 10′ insulated freezer doors where forklifts enter and exit when the door quickly descended upon the plaintiff’s head, driving him to the ground. The plaintiff sustained a traumatic brain injury.

I believe you are describing a rapid action overhead roll-up door. These may be metal doors or fabric doors with a steel frame. There are standards that require that they be equipped with either a light beam obstruction sensor that prevents the door from closing if the beam is broken by an object in the path of the door, or a pressure sensitive safety astragal along the bottom edge which stops the door quickly if it comes in contact with an object. I have cited this hazard numerous times during safety audits and inspections and believe it has been cited by OSHA as a violation of the machine-guarding standard. I have over forty years of experience in safety engineering, human factors, and environmental management experience. I have completed safety surveys of multiple governmental facilities, as well as on-site safety supervision in corporations and other construction work.

1. What are the safety precautions for refrigerator doors like this one?

Location: Virginia B.S., Virginia Polytechnic Institute & State University Certification: Professional Engineer, Safety Professional, Professional Environmental Auditor, Hazard Control Manager, Healthcare Safety Professional, Product Safety Manager Engineering License: MA Member, American Society of Safety Engineers, American College of Forensic Examiners, Human Factors & Ergonomics Society, Building Officials & Code Administrators International, National Fire Protection Association Former L*** P********* R************* n******* i******** c****** Former F*** P********* E******* s******** i******** s******* o***** Former M****** o* S***** C********* a** I********* M******* O***** o* S***** Former S***** a** H**** F****** C********* p****** s***** c********* f*** Current P******** a** P******** C********* p****** s***** c********* f***

This expert has over 40 years of experience in safety engineering, human factors, and environmental management experience. He has completed safety surveys of multiple governmental facilities, as well as on-site safety supervision in corporations and other construction work.

Rapidly Descending Refrigerator Door at Grocery Store Injures Man

This claim involves injuries sustained by a hotel guest in Mississippi resulting from ammonia exposure. The guest was allegedly exposed to ammonia due to a malfunction in a defective refrigerator in the room. The guest sustained severe ammonia poisoning as a result, and suffers from a host of complications. An expert was requested to assess the defective refrigerator in question and further explain design considerations which were overlooked in producing the refrigerator.

I am not aware of any small refrigerators that would be used in a hotel room that use ammonia as the refrigerant. The ones that I am familiar with all used R-12 or 134a at this time. All of the refrigerators that I have designed have used these working fluids. While the design and safety standards are the same, the smallest refrigerators that I have worked on were typical small household refrigerators. Ammonia is typically used for low temperature commercial refrigeration, not consumer appliances. I have not been the target of any claims involving ammonia. I have served as an expert witness but not involving ammonia. I am unaware of any similar small refrigerator incidents leaking ammonia and causing injury, probably because they do not exist.

1.) Have you previously designed / certified small refrigerator / freezer units for use in hotel rooms? 2.) If so, are you familiar with appropriate design standards to ensure no ammonia leaks will result from usage? 3.) Have you / any company you've worked for previously been the target of a negligence claim involving a design defect / ammonia poisoning? 4.) Have you ever served as an expert witness on a case similar to the one described above? 5.) Are you familiar with other incidents of hotel minibar / small refrigerators leaking ammonia, causing serious injury?

Location: IA B.S., Agricultural Engineering, Machine Design, Kansas State University M.S., Mechanical Engineering, Purdue University Certified, Professional Engineer Member, American National Standards Institute Member, Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Institute Member, Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers Member, Gas Appliance Manufacturers 3 Patents, Outdoor Heat Exchanger 6+ Publications in the HVAC space Former P****** D********** E******* T**** Former C**** E******* A**** R************ I*** Former V*** P******** C****** C********** Former V*** P******** A**** R************ I*** Former M****** E********** F***** C******* I***** Former C******** V*** P******** R** E********** & Q****** R**** M************ C** Current P******** a* p****** m********* a** e********** s****** f***

Southeast

Mississippi

This expert is a recognized technical expert in refrigeration systems, furnaces, household appliances, and product development procedures and processes. While he was the Corporate Vice President of Engineering at Rheem, he oversaw all product lines and their design documentations. He has more than 35 years of experience designing and developing HVAC units at industry leaders like Rheem, Trane, and Amana/Raytheon. He belongs to a number of prestigious societies in the HVAC space, and has authored 6 publications in the field. He has 3 approved patents in outdoor heating as well. He currently serves as the president of a private management and engineering consulting firm.

Ammonia Leak Allegedly Produced by Defective Refrigerator

This case takes place in Kentucky and involves an injury to a middle-aged man who was hit by the door of his refrigerator after it exploded due to an alleged defect in its design. The plaintiff had recently purchased a new home refrigerator and placed it in his basement. Approximately one week after his purchase, the refrigerator exploded without warning. When the blast occurred, the plaintiff was sitting on the couch in his basement enjoying a football game. The force of the explosion blew the front door from its hinges, propelling it at the plaintiff, and it struck him squarely in the chest and head. Subsequently, he suffered a shattered shoulder, broken clavicle, four cracked ribs and a concussion from the force of the door striking him. A number of expert witnesses specialize in consumer product safety and explosives were sought to opine on this case.

Like many home appliances, a refrigerator can be a dangerous machine if not built properly. Within the past 15 years, refrigerator manufacturers have been switching to “environmentally-friendly” coolants. This switch to “Greenfreeze” technology, as it is called, is made up of isobutene and propane hydrocarbon gases. Both of these gases are highly flammable This technology replaces CFCs and HFCs, which were discontinued after it was determined they were harmful to the ozone layer and contributed significantly to global warming. The refrigerators are designed with safety features to make sure these flammable gasses inside the pipework do not leak into the fridge. However, if there is a defect in this design, a forceful blast can result if the gases are ignited by a spark when the thermostat switches off. These types of problems typically occur when the door has remained shut for an extended period of time, which allows the gases to build up inside of the refrigerator. In this case, it appears that these gases likely contributed to the explosion, but further analysis on the fridge should be done to give a definitive answer. Also, the refrigerator should be designed to prevent any sparks from causing the built-up gases to light. An analysis of the original design, including the distribution system for the isobutene and propane hydrocarbon gases, and their use in the refrigerator, along with an examination of the remaining parts of the refrigerator (to test for compliance), is critical. I have over thirty-five years experience as design engineer, with extensive knowledge in refrigerator manufacturing.

1. How could this happen and how are fridges designed to prevent this?

Location: Kentucky BSEE, University of Louisville Former E********* D***** E******* G****** E******* Former H******************* E******* S********** O** Former C****** D***** E******* E********* Former L*** E********** E******* G* C******* a** I********* Former H*** C****** D***** E******* W****** I********* Current O**** a** D***** E******* o* a m**** c******* e********** c******

Kentucky

This highly qualified engineer has over 15 years of consumer products engineering experience. He has held many prestigious positions at such companies as Electrolux and General Electric and currently owns and is a lead engineer at a highly successful consumer electronics design firm.

Product Defect Allegedly Causes Explosion in Refrigerator

This is class action product liability matter against a major commercial appliance manufacturer. The main issue in this case centers around allegedly defective refrigerators in North Dakota. In these units, water is collecting in a key system due to an alleged defective component used to prevent frost formation from condensation. As a result of multiple failures, a number of restaurants and commercial food suppliers have suffered property damage and product spoilage through leakage of stored water via the bottom of the fridge’s freezer. It was claimed that the appliances were defectively designed or manufactured by the defendant company.

I have extensive knowledge of refrigerator and refrigeration systems, including refrigerator and refrigeration evaporator system designs and repairs. This includes the requirements for evaporator defrost and condensation draining. I was trained in refrigeration and appliance service. I have been a technician for operational and maintenance service, including repairs and corrections. In a previous instance, the type of screws used to mount the bracket around and under the evaporator was the root cause of the issue. I also have dealt with industrial refrigeration evaporators and ensuring the condensation from their drain pans was appropriately being drained out without causing the drain lines from freezing, causing blockage and water damage. I have taken technical calls and helped others address issue that they had. I am presently helping with the development of a inspection and maintenance document that will include and address evaporator maintenance and their associated condensation drainage systems.

1. Do you have extensive knowledge of refrigerator systems? 2. Do you have hands on experience with the design and engineering of refrigerators?

Location: Maryland A.A.S., Refrigeration and Appliance Service, Dunwoody Industrial Institute B.S., Industrial Technology, University of Wisconsin-Stout Certified, Industrial Refrigeration Operator, RETA/CARO/CIRO Certified, Universal Refrigeration Transition and Recovery, ACCA Internship, Maintenance Engineer, Marriot Corporation Former R************ T********* E***** R************ Former M********** T********* (**** R************* C** C********** Former C******** P****** E******* O**** M**** F**** C********** Former F********* E********** M****** S*** L** C********** Former P**** U******** M****** P**************** N**** A****** Former U******** a** F********* S****** M****** D******* G**** I** C**** D******* Former D******* o* R************ A******** L******** Current D******* o* S******** a** S***** w******* l****** i******** o* a****** r************

Midwest

North Dakota

This expert has over 25 years of experience in refrigeration maintenance. He received his associates degree in Refrigeration and Appliance service as well as a bachelors degree in science and industrial technology. He is a certified industrial refrigeration operator as well as certified by the ACCA in universal refrigeration transition and recovery. He began his career in industrial refrigeration technologies as an intern for The Marriot Corporation as a Maintenance Engineer. He then went on to work as a maintenance technician where he performed operations and maintenance of HVAC, refrigeration, lighting, plumbing, electrical, and general utilities and facilities. He has also previously been employed by the Sara Lee Corporation as a Facilities Engineering Manager where he performed and Oversaw Capital & Expense Projects involving expansions, renovations, and modification of the facilities, utilities, Ammonia refrigeration, HVAC, production equipment, high voltage, and boilers. He now works for the international institute of ammonia refrigeration where he provides responses to technical requests for the working knowledge of industrial refrigeration applications.

Refrigerator Defect Causes Property Damage, Food Spoilage

HVAC Piping & Plumbing Refrigeration Systems

Location: AZ BS, Mechanical Engineering, University of Arizona Licensed, Professional Engineer (PE), 10 states Licensed, Engineer, National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying (NCEES) Member, American Society of Heating, Refrigerating, and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) Member, National Society of Professional Engineers (NSPE) Member, National Association for Female Executives (NAFE) Member, Federation of Employers & Workers of America (FEWA) Member, The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) Member, Former, Chief Mechanical Engineer, RGA Consulting Engineers Former, President, Acorn Engineering and Consulting Former, Founder and President, OakStreet Man Current, Adjunct Professor, Department of Mechanical Engineering, an AZ univeristy Current, Principal, a engineering analysis, evaluation and project development consulting firm

This expert has reviewed 10 cases, been deposed 10 times and has testified at trial 10 times.

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Refrigerator Expert Witness Case Studies

Rapidly Descending Refrigerator Door at Grocery Store Injures Man

Ammonia Leak Allegedly Produced by Defective Refrigerator

Product Defect Allegedly Causes Explosion in Refrigerator

Refrigerator Defect Causes Property Damage, Food Spoilage

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