Danger of Office Chair Rotation
There is indeed a danger associated with the rotation of office chairs, with the main hazard being the gas spring at the bottom of the chair.
The gas spring is essentially a miniature high-pressure vessel. Legitimate products are filled with inert nitrogen gas, which can withstand thousands of kilograms of pressure. However, some unscrupulous manufacturers, in an attempt to reduce costs, use compressed air instead of nitrogen. The oxygen in the air can erode the metal inner wall of the gas spring, gradually making the steel brittle. During daily use, the frequent lifting and lowering of the gas spring generate frictional heat, causing the internal pressure to continuously rise. Under conditions such as exposure to high summer temperatures, sudden sitting, or the presence of tiny cracks inside the gas spring, an explosion may occur.
The hazards of a gas spring explosion are immense. For example, in 2013, Ms. Liu in Fujian Province was sitting on a swivel chair blow-drying her hair when the chair exploded. A steel tube with a diameter of about two centimeters pierced through her lower body, and fragments of various shapes were removed from her abdomen, with several pieces of metal debris remaining in her intestines alone. A 14-year-old boy was alone at home when his office chair suddenly exploded, and the lever of the gas spring pierced his abdomen. Despite several hours of rescue efforts, during which more than 20 pieces of metal fragments, foam blocks, and the lever were removed, he unfortunately died from excessive blood loss due to vascular damage. A 68-year-old man was sitting on a swivel chair when it exploded, and he was terrified when taken to the hospital, ultimately dying from excessive blood loss.
There are also safety hazards when the gas spring shows abnormalities. If the chair starts to make a hissing sound, wobbles unsteadily, or emits a creaking noise, it may be a warning that the gas spring is about to fail and poses a safety risk.
To avoid dangers, the following measures should be taken: When purchasing a swivel chair, do not be tempted by low prices; ensure that the gas spring has legitimate certifications, such as international certification marks like SGS and TUV. During use, avoid violent operations, such as sitting down forcefully or rapidly lifting and lowering the chair, and do not disassemble the gas spring without authorization.
