Posted on behalf of a Maintenance-Tips reader

Hi,
Recently we had an incident where I work where an HVAC technician used his hand to try to stop a large air handling fan that was coasting to a stop. Unfortunately it pulled 2 of his finger through the pulley cutting off one of them. From discussions I've had I understand that the use of a persons hand in slowing or stopping coasting fans is the " acceptable and preferred" method. It no longer is acceptable where I work, actually by policy it never was. Can you tell me if there is a tool or device or method that can be used to stop these loads safely and then also what can be done to keep the load from rotating again. Please let me know. Thanks!

Paul

quote:

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From discussions I've had I understand that the use of a persons hand in slowing or stopping coasting fans is the " acceptable and preferred" method.

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The guy telling me this, i would advise him to tell this to the victim, and kick his ...

The best tool is preparation. Before doing a job, sit and think, haste is expensive. Five minutes of patience would have prevented this accident.

You don't need a tool to stop the fan, you need safety awareness hammered into your employees and their bosses.

Terrence,

Two questions arise in my mind.
1. Why is it unacceptable to let the fan stop on its own accord - surely a few extra minutes of idle spinning is not that important.
2. I find hard to accept that in the 21at century
Quote the use of a persons hand in slowing or stopping coasting fans is the " acceptable and preferred" method Unquote. Who says so? In the UK, the regulator would nail any company that stated or followed such a policy. I cant imagine that a US regulator would be less stringent.

If it is essential that the fan be stopped in a hurry, try feeding a shearable bar, soft enough not to damage the blades - something like polystyrene bars would probably do. As to using fingers, NO WAY!

Vee

I Shudder to think that people are ruled by fear to get the job done in a hurry in the fact that they would attempt this move. But i have seen it happen.A local motor shop that does balancing as well had a man working night shift.It was about a two ton wheel he was trying to balance. The accepted practice there was to wrap a sling around the spinning shaft to slow it down.You guessed it the sling caught and proceeded to flip him around lucky for him it let him go but not after inflicting severe damage to his hands wrist and arms.I agree with anyone who says let it stop on it's own if it does not have a brake system. Those good old past practices have put a lot of good men in the ground early.Waiting that extra minute for the thing to stop could add years to your life !!!!!