Rapidly Descending Refrigerator Door at Grocery Store Injures Man

Case Overview

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.

Questions to the Biomechanical Engineering expert and their responses

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

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.

About the expert

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.