Garage doors are considered by most home owners as a necessary part of the home and they are
given no further thought. Yet every year 10,000 Americans are injured by garage doors mishaps. Most doors are installed correctly and the openers operate according to specification, but as time goes by there is wear and a general lack of maintenance, the opener is adjusted to counter this and all appears well. About 7,500 injured fingers a year could be less severe if the down force safety settings are properly set up, allowing the trapped person to push up on the door and the opener reversing to release the fingers. Badly crushed fingers often need to be amputated.
About 2,500 Americans are injured when they get trapped under a closing door, and again the opener safety settings are at fault. Older garage doors with regular (non safety) glass in them account for about 700 injuries when the glass breaks. This older glass should be replaced with newer glass.
When did you last check the safety features on your door opener? When did you last check the mountings for the track and the opener? Are they all secure? Last but not least, have you looked for loose hinges or rollers, and does your door bind or catch in the track? It may be out of alignment which again could be a safety issue. Older doors with springs and cables that run parallel to the track should have a safety wire through them to prevent injury when they fail.
Children are involved in a high percentage of door injuries. If you are unsure, get a specialist to check out your door.
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