FLT ATTENDANT RPT; MD80; ELP-DFW; HAND INJURY IN FIRST CLASS CLOSET DOOR. DESIGN DEFICIENCY.
Synopsis
FLT ATTENDANT RPT; MD80; ELP-DFW; HAND INJURY IN FIRST CLASS CLOSET DOOR. DESIGN DEFICIENCY.
Narrative
I GRABBED THE CLOSET DOOR (WHICH ROLLS SHUT UP TO DOWN) WITH BOTH HANDS (PALMS UP). I PULLED HARD (WHICH IS REQUIRED FOR THAT PARTICULAR CLOSET). MY HAND WAS SMASHED BTWN THE CLOSET DOOR AND THE NEW COMPARTMENT; WHICH HOUSES THE FIRST CLASS 3 TIERED CART INSIDE OF THE CLOSET. X-RAYS AT COMPANY MEDICAL FACILITY IN DTW SHOWED MY HAND WAS NOT BROKEN. I GOT THE CUTS AND ABRASIONS CLEANED AND DRESSED AND RECEIVED A TETANUS SHOT. MY HAND IS STILL SORE A WK LATER; BUT I HAVE RETURNED TO WORK. ON THE NEWLY RECONFIGURED S80 ACFT; WHICH PROVIDES 20 FIRST CLASS SEATS; A 3 TIERED CART COMPARTMENT WAS ADDED TO THE FIRST CLASS COAT CLOSET AND IS HOUSED IN A VERY HARD; STEEL RIMMED COMPARTMENT INSIDE OF THE CLOSET. THIS ACCIDENT WILL OCCUR AGAIN IF THE COMPARTMENT IS NOT REDUCED IN SIZE; MOVED TOWARDS THE BACK; OR REMOVED AND RELOCATED. ANOTHER SOLUTION WOULD BE TO PUT ON A CLOSET DOOR THAT ACTUALLY ACTS LIKE A DOOR -- THIS TYPE OF ROLLING DOOR GETS STUCK A LOT AND IS ALWAYS TOUGH TO CLOSE. THE INJURY COUNSELOR TOLD ME THAT THEY GET A LOT OF SIMILAR ACCIDENTS.
Source: NASA Aviation Safety Reporting System (public domain). Reports are voluntary submissions and are not verified by NASA.