After hearing so many stories from my dad who used to be a garage door technician, I can tell you that quite a lot. However, the closest statistic report from 2007 I found online was regarding children - and the springs are only #6 on the list, with 313 casualties.That being said, children will most likely never try to mess with the springs anyway. It is not appealing, and too high for them to reach. Adults however, are a different story. My father ran into many cases when his customers tried to first replace the broken spring themselves, which is why I can only assume the injury rate for adults really is higher.As John mentioned, springs nowadays are indeed less dangerous than in the past - but it doesn’t mean it is not dangerous at all. So yes - hiring a professional to do the job for you will be a lot easier. I hoped I helped somehow! BTW, I’m writing a blog about my dad’s stories from his years at work, you might find it interesting :)1996 Oct;98(4 Pt 1):770-3., , , , , .OBJECTIVES: Despite significant advances in automatic garage door opener design, automatic garage door openers continue to severely injure or kill children.

In this investigation, we sought to determine the frequency and circumstances of accidents that have caused severe injury or death to children. We also tried to develop a means by which homeowners can evaluate their door openers.METHODS: We present the histories of three children severely injured or killed by automatic garage door openers. We reviewed national data of similar accidents primarily published by the US Product Safety Commission and Underwriters Laboratories. Also, we evaluated 50 automatic door openers for safety of operation. The reversing mechanisms of door openers were tested using a cardiopulmonary resuscitation mannequin, a roll of paper towels, and a block of wood.RESULTS: In the United States, at least 85 children have had permanent brain injury or have died since 1974 as a result of accidents involving automatic door openers. A review of circumstances of the accidents illustrates that accidents are caused both by use of the openers by children and by faults in design.

Most accidents have occurred when children have found access to the activation devices and have been entrapped under closing doors that failed to reverse. However, in one case, an adult activated the opener and left the premises before the door completely closed. Our evaluation of 50 garage door openers showed that although 88% percent reversed when encountering a block of wood, 40% failed to reverse when coming down on a supine, child-sized cardiopulmonary resuscitation mannequin.CONCLUSIONS: Automatic garage door openers pose a serious risk of severe injury or death to children. It is probable that many doors would not reverse if they came down on a young child. Therefore, we have devised a way for homeowners to test their door openers that closely mimics our evaluations using the mannequin by using a large roll of paper towels. If the door fails to reverse using this test, we suggest that homeowners disconnect their openers and operate the doors manually until the openers are serviced or replace their automatic openers with one that meets the latest Underwriters Laboratory standards.

We also have other recommendations regarding the safe operation of the doors, including improving the safety standards for openers in apartment complexes. oak external door frame with sidelightsCompliance with these recommendations should reduce the number of injuries to children caused by garage door openers.garage door parts lexington kySAFETY TIPS FOR GARAGE DOORS & OPENERSsliding glass cat door insertYour garage door’s springs are one of the most important parts of your door. soft top for a 2008 jeep wrangler 4 doorUnfortunately springs wear out and can become the most dangerous part of your door resulting in serious injury. pvc door for sale philippines

If you have an older garage door, have your springs inspected by a professional serviceman and replaced if needed. car window repair mission viejoIf your door has two springs, replace both, even if only one is broken. fire proof doors in puneThis will prevent any damage caused by the breaking of the second spring, and make your door last longer.Visually inspect the cables that attach the spring system to the bottom brackets on both sides of the door. If these cables are frayed or worn, they are in danger of breaking, which can cause injury. Due to the dangers associated with high spring tension, these cables should be replaced only by a trained technician.Springs can squeak and be noisy. This is caused by normal use and does not necessarily indicate a problem. Before calling a professional service technician, use a spray-on lubricant (recommended especially for garage doors).

If the noise persists, call a professional garage door installer for service.Garage door installation can be dangerous and isn’t recommended for those inexperienced.  DASMA recommends that professional door systems technicians install garage doors. If you need to attempt the installation by yourself, closely follow the manufacturer’s installation guide carefully.Does your Garage door have extension springs? If not, you should install a safety cable that runs through the spring and is secured to the wall/ceiling at each end. When your garage door is closed, extension springs are under high tension. If the spring breaks with someone around, it may cause injury. A safety cable can keep a broken spring contained. If you have extension springs but no safety cable, call your local garage door dealer for a safety inspection.If your door does not easily go up and down, you may have a problem and unsafe condition. Even older garage door systems should operate smoothly. If the door is still moving awkwardly when the door is manually operated, your door may have a spring system that is out of balance.

This can cause extra wear and tear on other important door components. Again, spring systems can be dangerous so they should be repaired by trained professionals.Every year, many unsuspecting homeowners injure their fingers by pulling down on the door with their fingers between the panels. According to DASMA Standard 116, if your door doesn’t have pinch-resistant joints, you should have special handles or gripping points on the inside and outside of the door. Even if your door has an opener, the door should  be manually operable. Never place your fingers between the door’s panels. If you do manually open or close your garage door, use the handles or the safe gripping points!The bottom brackets on a garage door are connected to the door’s springs which are under extreme tension. Only a trained door systems technician should adjusted any part of your garage door system. Many manufacturers include tamper-resistant technology that prevents loosening of the brackets by a novice, but you still should be aware of these brackets.

Use the Old Track? If you’re replacing your garage door, don’t be tempted to save a few dollars by putting a new door on the old track. Know that your old track may not fit with your new door, because there are many factors for compatibility. Thickness of your sections, weight of the door, headroom required, location of the garage door opener, and other considerations should all be taken seriously. The track and sections work together as a system so for maximum performance and extended life, you should use the track that is specifically designed for your new door.Your garage door is most likely the largest moving part in your home and is used every day. Over time, parts can wear out or break, creating potential safety issues. An annual visit from a trained garage door systems technician will keep your door operating properly for a long time.Keep your owner’s manuals in the garage for easy reference. Each door and opener model  has specific safety instructions unique to it.

Where is your manual? SAFETY TIPS FOR GARAGE DOOR OPENERSInstalling a garage door opener is typically easier than installing an actual garage door, but improper installation can be problematic. DASMA recommends that a trained garage door system technician install your opener, but if you do it yourself, follow the manufacturer’s instructions carefully.When closing your garage door with a push button or remote control, you should always wait until the door is completely closed. This ensures no person or animal gets caught under a closing door. A few seconds can save a severe injury. Have a Reinforcement Bracket? Some do-it-yourselfers forget to install an opener reinforcement bracket on the top section of the door. Failure to do this can damage your door. All Do-it-yourselfers should double check the installation manual for instructions. Get a More Powerful Opener? If your door feels unusually heavy, it’s probably out of balance and needs adjustment. Many problems can be the cause, and if you try to fix it yourself, you could get hurt.

Call a trained door systems technician to diagnose any problems and offer solutions. The answer is not a more powerful garage door opener. Openers are designed to open doors that are properly balanced. The Six-Inch Rule.Photo eyes should not be installed more than six inches above the garage floor. If they are installed higher, you run the risk of a person or pet not getting detected by the photo eyes.The push button for your garage door should be at least five feet above the floor so it’s out of the reach of children. Teach your children to not play with the garage door. Do You Know Where Your Remote Controls Are? For the reasons mentioned above, keep remote controls for your garage where children cannot play with them. Warn your children of the dangers of playing with a garage door. Also, be sure to keep your remote controls locked up. If you park a car outside, be sure to lock your car so no unwanted people can access your remote and garage door.Some thieves use technology to “record” your transmitter’s signal.