NOTHING COLD ABOUT THESE REFRIGERATORS POOR SAFETY MEETS MOLTEN ENAMEL
The Grand Rapids Refrigerator Company of Grand Rapids, Michigan, had not met its duty in any of those three areas when Harry Adams, an employee, was working for them in the early 1900s. The company used enamel to line the inside of its refrigerators in a process that involved introducing molten enamel to water, a hardening reaction that had a high potential for disaster. And disaster struck in November 1906 when, in the course of Adams’ normal duties, the holding tank full of molten enamel exploded while he operated it at close distance — at the instruction of his foreman who was overseeing the operation. It’s a miracle that Adams wasn’t killed, although he lived in severe pain for the rest of his life. His employer attempted to dodge all responsibility, and Adams was forced into the courts to get some kind of justice. As you can imagine, the judicial system took note of the incident
and, after examining everything in detail, came to some groundbreaking conclusions, at least for the day. The chief one was that Adams’ injury could not have been foreseen by an average person, because although he had experience, he lacked understanding of the materials he was working with — an understanding that his employer had not provided. Molten enamel has similar properties to lava, and an exploding tank full of the stuff is not a hazard anyone should have to deal with in the workplace. The shockwaves of Adams’ near-fatal injury have reverberated for over a century now and provide valuable precedence when it comes to the duty employers have to their employees, whether that person has experience or not, which is why even today, when we attend ongoing, yearly safety training, we benefit from the hard lessons learned in Adams v. Grand Rapids Refrigerator.
If you don’t know what enamel is, you’ve probably seen it around: It’s the colorful, protective coating that covers tiles and all kinds of fancy cookware. But how does it get on to things? For that, you need heat — enough to melt enamel into a workable, molten-hot liquid. It’s dangerous stuff to work with, which means facilities need to provide extensive training, personal protective equipment, and proper maintenance.
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LAST CHANCE TO APPLY FOR THE FINNEY INJURY LAW SCHOLARSHIP!
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Finney Injury Law is proud to continue our scholarship program for a second year. Last year, we intended to give out one scholarship, but after seeing the need for more, we ended up giving out seven. This year, we’re giving out five worth $2,500 each. Recipients can use the funds for tuition, books, housing, or LSAT course reimbursement. About the Scholarship The Finney Injury Law Scholarship empowers students who are historically underrepresented in the legal profession to pursue their educational dreams. Cost, support,
and guidance are often barriers preventing smart and driven individuals from seeking higher education. Our scholarship will help deserving students break down those barriers, accomplish their educational goals, and prepare for a future in law. To see the list of eligibility criteria and application requirements, visit FinneyInjuryLaw.com/the-finney- injury-law-scholarship . Application Deadline All applications must be submitted via the website above by July 31, 2021, at 11:59 p.m. CST.
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