Office Chair Explosion Danger
Office chairs do pose a risk of serious injury or even life-threatening situations due to bursting.
Injury Cases
Ms. Liu in Xiamen experienced a chair explosion while sitting down. A three-centimeter steel rod pierced through her lower body and into her uterus, and doctors removed more than a dozen metal fragments from her abdomen. Additionally, the term 'exploding chair' reflects the phenomenon of bursting in office swivel and lift chairs, which has caused injuries to several innocent people across the country in recent years, ranging from severe injuries to life-threatening situations.
Causes of Injury
These injuries are primarily related to the pneumatic rods. Pneumatic rods are key components that enable the height adjustment function of office chairs and are typically filled with gas internally. Under normal circumstances, pneumatic rods should be filled with nitrogen because nitrogen is chemically stable, does not easily react with other substances, and remains gaseous under normal temperature and pressure conditions, ensuring the proper functioning of the pneumatic rods. However, some unscrupulous manufacturers reduce costs by using compressed air instead of nitrogen to fill the pneumatic rods. Compressed air contains components such as oxygen, and over long-term use, frequent height adjustments of the pneumatic rods can lead to a continuous buildup of internal pressure. When the pressure exceeds the pneumatic rod's tolerance limit, an explosion can occur.
Hazards of Explosion
When a pneumatic rod explodes, the metal components and gases inside are ejected at extremely high speeds. These metal components are often sharp, such as steel rods, and can cause severe puncture and laceration injuries upon impact with the human body. Moreover, the impact force generated by the explosion can also cause secondary injuries to the body, such as fractures and internal organ damage. Additionally, the explosion may trigger secondary disasters like fires, further threatening the user's life safety.
To avoid injuries caused by office chair explosions, consumers should choose products manufactured by reputable companies when purchasing office chairs and check whether the products have relevant quality certification marks. At the same time, during use, avoid excessive squeezing or colliding with the office chair, regularly inspect the working condition of the pneumatic rod, and replace it promptly if any abnormalities are found.
