Document aJk5m0KnozQjywrO8ayp9G3nB

FILE NAME: Asbestos in Hair Dryers (HD) DATE: 1974 July 2 DOC#: HD054 DOCUMENT DESCRIPTION: Gillette Medical Eval Lab Memo with Data from NEISS In-Depth Studies - Hair Dryers f jjZ ,f i i m & * * T ^ .r ^ I jffv . H m s ;In-Depth Studies Bair.Dryers . `.-i..-;.v^*rf-~"r'^?'.' 'ir':' '.-':~-r>r>V '-'?v? '. - ' ' ^,:'.''4:"`. -- _' . . ,j"'a7''"' **** * - jRr r "... " i;>-\A-`^ - -* '' -' ' ' : r*,;- '"-- _-.*T A.' '-\?5&1V -*- - - . *i " '" ' ,* - > F. Adami J. Clements J. Dickinson L. Hardy P. Hem&r P. Kreasky J. Lajole J. Mullaney V " *> ***** C^P*. etc. t^Cf*n2;..refl*cfcs:several' PBAsponaored fieiri CONFIDENTIAL G 00535 HrissSfr-.** ti.3? -fwSaCt ' " :\r- ____s_,,. issjgi- ' * v f f iS r : i- using ' _ _ _^_ ..... .-__ `5tieed that thh dryer tod;bia^ 'iurfe t ^ ^ ^ ^ & t y hot^ift&isroxlBately ,10tiiii^t^-iu^^iS^&i^SSt6i63Et!9 l$ H l ' a u t o m a t i c a l l y . .5-; : u n i t W 1 .'rt . ` '''^V^f^T*'''* <-.' ' - Anally, with the witch on "dry"'position aha noticed the licit began . to 'smoke and become extremely hoc after 10 alnutea use. She then unplugged the unit and called Gillette in Boston. She vaa told to "send the dryetjta.the firm's office1in Wisconsin where it would he repaired." (Quotes''lndicata verbatim copy from report.) In addition, she vaa also told; "it was doubtful;she could get her money back". The- co en t; ah cr^ rW io S siiirw aa^ ^ ^ ^ ^ rep o rt':1 iith o u ^ ;the retu rn un it >T< la iin H ijin w ro l^^;i't-'w *a;;h o ^1^E riilet^d eteraiiie"'if the g i r l was to ld in co rrectly ' or ahe 're p w tt^ inaccOTately; ' ' " ** V^...'* . . 2. Max.For Hen - Model HD-5 (Gillette)"--.(Made in-Japan) - Serial #025138272 Broonfirld, Colorado.;' .'1974J~a?r_.- . . . .. -. . - --- .--v'-! -A: :<-;S^rf(^vri-5s:.^--vV '- - . . A 30 year-old,malV purchased ^ tajf^Phr'.Hen HD-5; Sine he was already familiar vith:hL~aodel thTOdgh prtoT ue,hedidnot bother to read the instructions.. Infact, heclalmed that his dryer didn't have any instructions when^purehaaed.-^' ;; - . After-2 onHiW^Siij.-while'-nalng the-brush attachment with the dryer set on "dry", the aEfaChment fell off.and the hot grill of the blower touched the skin on the hack of bia neck. He received 1st degree burns (Hyperemic) of the neck. Color photos (showing the bums and the dryer) were attached to the file. During the follow-up investigation a second dryer was purchased to obtain an instruction booklet. It was found by CPSC (?) that the grill rim is metal with plastic cross bars. During use both rim and cross bars became hot enough to cause bums. 3.- G.E. Hairdryer Denver, Colorado 1967 ' A 19 year old female burned her wrist on the dryer hose. 3 days later she sought medical attention as the burn became infected. G 00536 i I t j i 4. Sunbeam H a i r d r y e r e l >-3 -Tporbibie bSnnet tv. "' ` Saaervilla, Massachusetts 1 9 6 8 ..... t^ > A 23 ytiar old f a a k l ^ fell 'asleep' vhlle ualnz the j I suatnlned 1st and 2nd degree burns where the arm. T tc dryer was s e t on "high"; H o r m a S r .th e S l e e t * `h setting down but this tine fell a s leeo Th C turned the dryer had "been around for y r s " . 8UbjCCt -reported i 5. Universal Hairdryer - Handy Hannah - Deluxe Model UH2995DR Boston, Massachusetts . 1968 i A 23 year old female fell asleep while drying her hair with w d S r r ^ ^ tla : b* ^ - S ^cl^h eln d iuvestiea^^ tte dr7 er set on "medium". The j S e e v?rtCS ^ d S 18 M b J e as nhaving had cerebral palsy as comnared 8 ^ adjustment. Better than average muscle control claims "this d ^ r " I \ ^ \ f d e f ** o. Universal Hairdryer - Handi Hannah Deluxe - Serial ?UH2 1 9 5 n m Holliston, Massachusetts 1969 ?u h 21950(3) be?4ir f ^ Cep watchln8 television while drying act -air. She received- 2nd degree b u m s on her left hand where ft the nextmorningfC^ * * h8 e - ^ di-- ^ blister on her hand The following conclusion was made by the investigator. 'Hazard - the f t r ^ L 8eem t0 e m u l a t e well enough if the h o ^ hangs freely her hair"? e n -rall7 supports the hose with her hand when drying' 7. Universal Handy Hannah Portable Electric Hair Dryer Memphis, Tennessee 1973 s o r ? / ^ ld by r?bbCd thc hC end 0f Che dr>'cr ^ c n the mother s o t U down on a stool. He received 1st degree burns on the r i g S T G 00537 Page 3 ! "President Hodel" Capital Halir Dryra.. Chicago -- Serial- #3938 { Vellingtoa, Colorado *::: Aognat 1," 1971 I A 17 76^ oli female died of fright and electric shock while under ; tha nalx oryer. The death certificate (In the file) gave the l immediate cause of death as pulmonary edema, severe electrical shock ; and fright. The case was originally located through a T V newscast. ; In the subsequent investigation the all metal hair dryer -was found ! to be about 20 years old with a direct short on the "hot" position i of the 4 position switch. The dryer did not have a 3 prong plug. ; The girl, with metal clips in her hair, was sitting in the door of the bathroom. She had to lean one arm on the lavatory which had a ; leaky fanret. The girl was also bsrefoot. When she touched the lavatory she rose 'screaking and then fell to the floor. 9. "Chic" - (see in text) Belmont, Massachusetts 1972 A seven year old girl used an electric hair dryer under the blankets of her bed to provide extra warmth to alleviate her discomfort from fever and chills. The heat generated by using the hair dryer in an enciosed, unventilated space set fire to the bedding and her night gown. The victim suffered 2nd and 3rd d e g u a burns on her arms, legs, and trunk. The hair dryer was over 10 years old and had no thermostat. The child a mother was one of the original organizers and active participants in a newly established consumers' group ``Action for the Prevention of Burn Injuries to Children". This report a i m vas filed under Flammable Fabrics". The case report also states, "The electric hair dryer which served as the ignition source, was being used in a manner clearly not intended by the manufacturer and, yet, in a manner which appears plausible to the mind of a young child experiencing distress from an acute illness. Clearly, products must be designed for safety in all reasonably anticipated uses." The report then, comments that a recent model of Chic" has precautionary labeling against using in a manner that would block the air intake. Also, it is now thernostated. The follow ing comment was then inserted in the report, apparcntlv by the investigator. "The safety modifications and operating instructions associated with the new hair dryer clearly reveal the deficiencies of the older model involved in this case". Sir.cc the h a i r d r y e r burned, o n l y the letter.-. " C hic" w e r e legible. T h i s may have been a "Lady S chick" although the next report shows a different vari.it ion of this nam e and m a y i n d i c a t e there is .also a " C h i c " drye r . Inc r. rr.iirology u sed in thin m e m o r e f l e c t s the usage in the reports. G 00538 WS* ET 10. Lady Chic Hair Dryer (Lady Schifck?) ' Greensboro, Forth Carolina 1973 - - ' A twelve year old boy used the dryer after a shampoo. He lay down on a b e d with the unit on and fell asleep. The bed consisted of a heavy cotton mattress and polyester blanket. (Also cited as flammable fabric.) The dryer evidently overheated and shorted out setting fire to the blanket. The fire melted the plastic from the .case and the polyester blanket. The boy received 1st and 2nd degree b o m s on his arms and trunk from the melted plastic. 11. Schick Hand Hair Dryer ' - c' . This was a short report of a case where a dryer was dropped in a bathtub electrocuting the bather.. Ho date or location was noted. 12. Veeco Dryer lfadel'#400 Longview, Washington. 1972 . . . This was an incomplete report indicating the motor of the dryer overheated damaging the dryer only. There was no personal injury. 13. Unknown dry* McPherson, Kansas 1973 . A two year old girl was restless and w ouldn't sleep. The mother set a hair dryer on a table at the foot of the bed and directed the air stream onto a mobile suspended over the girl's head. The girl was left alone for about 20 minutes. In the- oeantinc the dryer had fallen off the table onto the girl's legs. The heat from the dryer had melted the fabric of the sleepwear which then stuck to the legs. The girl received 1st and 2nd degree burns on the legs.. The dryer was discarded and was not identified. 16. "Soverign" dryer, Vm. Meyer Co. Downington, Pennsylvania 1972 ` A 25 year old female was assembling a pole type dryer when she Inadvertantly released a spring collapsing the pole unit. The fryer fell against her f o r e h e a d c a u s i n g l a c e r ations. G 00539 15. Top-- Petit (Made in J z - n a ) Vv.-.-,-'vv>-_. . . ..i ' Kent, Washington" "T.1 9 7 2 . A two year old girl was injured when she picked up a hair dryer lait running .`on a halt by h e r htother. The r h f M placed the hoc end in her nouth and received 2nd degree burns of the mouth. These burns will require plastic surgery. The report concludes that these were probably electrical b u m s since the outer surface of the dryer was cool enough to touch. The heating elements, however, were near the edge and moisture from the mouth may have caused an electrical burn. 16. J . c . Penney "Penncraft" Electric Hair'Dryer Memphis, Tennessee 1972 //:- An 18 month old boy was getting up from the floor to walk with his mother.- His foot slipped on the hardwood floor and he fell against a hair dryer stored on the floor. He received lacerations of the lever lip. * 17. "Professional of Hollywood" Dryer (no location) 1973 . A consumer complaint' alleged that a dryer set on "medium heat" exploded inside the case after two minutes operation. A replacement dryer, also in.the "medium "heat" position, overheated within two minutes, burned the hand of the user, dropped to the floor and scorched a rug. There was no reported injury. 18. Eastern 600 Styler/Drye.r Model 0D55O1 - (Made in Japan) (Manufacturers name changed to Morton Springer Co.) Penn Hills, Pennsylvania 1974 . A 14 year'old female noticed sparks flying from the air outlet of the dryer in a dark room. She claimed chat the sparks singed her hair. ^9. Sun Model D-5501 Dryer (on dryer) Hatas-hi Mist Styler/Dtyer - GOO Watts - (note similarity with report 18) Portland, Oregon 1974 (Mace in Japan) (on box) " .. - /> C> year old girl noticed flames coning from the dryer brush ivt.tchi:.i_nt after the dryer was running for five minutes. She observed that the hear'eg coils were actual'y flaming and that the .lames had to be blown out after unplugging the dryer. She reported singed hair. G 00540 41 ? 3 '-1 . * -- i >. . rr *. `V.r. -- 20. Eastern Personal. Styler/Dryer for' Women & Men - (Made in Japan) - * . Levittcvn, Pennsylvania .1973 "' . Model ID-5002 A twelve year old girl burnt the fingers on her right hand when the plastic ease of the dryer became excessively hot and partially melted. She also reported that she felt an electric shock. 21. CWE Dryer (Taiwan?) Saukville, Wisconsin 1973 ' A 52 year old female received'the dryer as a promotion. During the second^uae the dryer flamed and'hot plastic and solder fell onto the user's legs. She received 1st degree b u m s of the back and side of her legs. The dryer was unplugged and thrown outdoors where it self-extinguished. Photos were included of the badly burned dryer. ' 22. Horelco Mist Dry 750 Model HB7600 Fayetteville, Arkansas This report stated that a'metal bar on the hair- dryer gets hot and burns your hand. 23. Clairol Air Brush Styling Dryer AB-1 This brief report claimed the dryer gave electric shocks. 24. Unspecified Dryer A newspaper clipping from the Philadelphia Inquirer of March 5, 1974 contained a notice of the death by electrocution from an unspecified hair dryer of a mother of 2 (Marie Zanand (?)) -4 \ i G 00541