Brushcutters, Powered

21 YOM WAS *** STUNG BY BEE DX STING ANKLE

64 YOM CUT FINGER ON A BRUSHCUTTER DX: LAC

65YOM PT WORKING WITH A *** WHEN A TREE FELL L& HIT PT IN RT SHOULDER DX: CLOSED FRACTURE PROXIMAL END OF RT HUMERUS

64YOF PT WAS OUTSIDE IN THE YARD USING LONG-HANDLE CUTTERS, WHEN SHE REACHED OUT TO CUT BRANCHES & FELT POP IN RIBS DX: CHEST WALL MUSCLE STRAIN

70YOM, ACCIDENTALLY CUT HIS LEFT THUMB, INDEX, AND MIDDLE FINGERS ON BRUSH CUTTER EDGAR DX: LACERATION OF MULTIPLE SITES OF LEFT HAND AND FINGERS

39YOF PRESENTS WITH COMPLAINTS OF LACERATIONS TO THE DORSAL SIDE OF THE DISTAL LEFT INDEX AND MIDDLE FINGER. PATIENT STATES SHE WAS TRIMMING HER HEDGES WHEN THE ELECTRIC TREMOR SHE ACCIDENTALLY CUT HER HAND. DX: LACERATION OF LEFT HAND WITHOUT FOREIGN BODY.

64YOM PT CUTTING A BRANCH & FELL 15FT, LANDED ON FEET DX: MULTIPLE INJURIES DUE TO TRAUMA, FRACTURE CLOSED CALCANEUS, FRACTURE CLOSED STERNUM, PNEUMOTHORAX,RT #

61YOF CUT L INDEX FINGER ON AUTOMATIC SHRUB CUTTERDX ACUTE LEFT INDEX FINGER LACERATION

81YOM WAS USING BRUSHCUTTERS AND SLIPPED AND CUT HIS FOURTH FINGER DX: LEFT FINGER FRACTURE AND LACERATION OF LEFT RING FINGER

80YOM AT HOME WOKE UP WITH SHOULDER PAIN RIGHT SIDE, STS CUT ALOT OF BUSHES FEW DAYS AGODX R SHOULDER/THORACIC STRAIN

9 YOM USING ELECTRIC HEDGE CLIPPERS, THEY SLIPPED CUT FINGER DX FINGER LACERATION

55 YOM LACERATED HIS KNEE WHILE USING A BRUSH TRIMMER. DX: LEFT KNEE LACERATION.

Single shoulder harness included with Stihl FS 90 R-Z (and other models) brushcutter/trimmer can detach unexpectedly resulting in the release of the powered brush cutter. The clasp is poorly designed such that the "tongue" can move from side to side, leading to a potentially catastrophic release of the machine from its harness while it is running.

I own a 1) RYOBI BC30 string trimmer and 2) leaf blower that are plagued with rubber fuel line and rubber gasket leaks. 1) Consumers exposed to fuel/oil mix 2) Hazard of fire/explosion Rubber fuel lines and gaskets have swollen or cracked. Gas cap gaskets leak. Fuel line leaks.

On June 10, 2011 I was trying to remove a Shakepeare Heavy Duty Brush Cutter tool from my weed trimmer to add a washer for proper fit, when one of the 3 blades swiveled and cut my right thumb to the bone. This was my first use of the brush cutter. I contacted the company and suggested they add cheap plastic blade guards to all 3 blades that could be removed before use. This would be a cheap way to protect consumer fingers and hands while installing or removing the brush cutter. The brush cutter is designed for "no tool" installation and removal but is seriously dangerous to get off the weed trimmer because of the grip and torque needed for removal. The instruction documents provided even show an hand with no gloves trying to remove the cutter from a trimmer. Jarden Corporation never responded to my suggestion for plastic blade covers but did respond to my demand for damages. Civil litigation is pending.

I was blowing leaves on our patio with the Weed Eater WB160. I had been using it no more than 5 minutes when it exploded inches from my thigh. There were no indications of what was about to happen, no strange smells, sounds or appearance. There was a deafening shotgun sound and the internal pieces were expelled out the sides of the plastic housing and directly into my right leg. After the initial shock of the sound, the blower was still running, making a high pitched whirring sound, even though almost all of the green plastic housing was obliterated. I immediately unplugged the unit from the wall and called my husband over for help. He promptly took photographs of the blower, the adjacent pieces and my leg. Upon inspection my right leg was bleeding, had several abrasions and a contusion about the size of a football. We left right away for the ER to make sure nothing more was wrong.