SaferProducts incident

Failure type

Electrical shock / short

Incident narrative

SaferProducts.gov consumer incident report 20191104-DD92A-2147376756. Severity: Injury, Seen by Medical Professional. Product: DeWalt Handheld Blower Model DCBL772 (DeWalt Handheld Blower, cordless with 60 volt lithium ion battery.). Incident: Girl Scouts San Diego had an employee using a brand new Dewalt battery powered leaf blower, model DCBL772 to clear leaf debris from sidewalks. The unit performed properly the first time it was used out of the box. When used again, after several minutes of use, the employee felt an electrical shock through the handle of the unit. The schock was severe enough to require a doctors visit as the employee suffered muscle disfunction in the right hand that was effected. The blower was placed out of service and the battery removed. The unit was inspected by a supervisor and the battery that was in use was found to be working properly and function normally in other battery power tools. A charged battery was reinstalled in the leaf blower in question and with electrical isolation gloves and isolation from ground, the leaf blower was tested. The leaf blower no longer worked and did not appear to be providing any electrcial energy through the plastic handle. The leaf blower remains out of service at the below address. The employee continues under a doctors care and six days later has limited use of the right hand.