There are several safety concerns regarding ceilings since they are fixedly installed overhead. So the question in everyone’s mind is, is there any way for us to prevent mishaps and still enjoy the fixtures’ aesthetic characteristics?
Are ceiling fans dangerous?
In general, ceiling fans do not pose health and safety issues, but they can lead to injuries if the ceiling fans are not properly installed or unless the person negligently puts his hands on the ceiling fan’s blades.
The article prepared for today is additional information about the subject matter that will put your mind at ease regarding the safety issues of ceiling fans.
How Dangerous Are Ceiling Fans?
The blades of your ceiling fan can cause significant injury to you and your family when interacting with the person.
The ceiling fan blades are usually wood, metal, fiberboard, or plastic. Although they are not sharp, the fast rotating, thin, and hard blades are enough to cause major bruising, wounds, lacerations, or dislocation of the bone.
You must consider that a rotating blade has an average speed of 300 and 350 RPM under a high setting—the strong centrifugal force results in injuries when it makes contact with the individual.
Are Wobbly Ceiling Fans Dangerous?
Wobbly ceiling fans can be dangerous because the risk of the fixture dismounting from the ceiling board becomes more likely every time you are using it.
Once you begin to notice, the ceiling fans become unstable or wobbly. It signifies that immediate maintenance or possible repairs are needed to prevent further damage to the ceiling fan or accidents, such as the fixture falling off.
Inspecting the ceiling fan for damages or loose items is best to remedy the situation. You can ask for the assistance of your local professional to repair the fixture and ensure that the procedure is properly laid out.
Are Ceiling Fans Safe to Leave On Overnight?
Ceiling fans improve the airflow within a specific area making the environment cooler and more comfortable as you take your slumber at night.
However, some safety issues are one of many homes’ fears about leaving their ceiling fan turned on overnight. Some common concerns are if the junction box catches fire due to overuse.
The good news is that modern ceiling fans can absorb huge amounts of heat from hours of continuous use.
A word of caution, though—you may not find the same quality and sturdiness in cheap and subpar brands. Therefore, you highly recommend investing your money in ceiling fans manufactured by reputable brands.
Although they can be a little expensive, what matters is that you have put your money into a fixture that you can be sure of the safety feature and give you peace of mind as you go about your daily business.
Also, another thing you have to consider is that even though you can use them overnight, you cannot use them for many days non-stop.
In doing so, you risk the ceiling fan overheating and short-circuiting, which will cause irreparable damage to the fixture or fire.
With this being said—always remind yourself to turn off the ceiling whenever you are not at home or its use is not necessary.
Can Ceiling Fans Fall On You?
Ceiling fans can fall on you if the fixture is not properly installed, depreciation, too much weight, lack of maintenance, or other defects from the installation process or the product itself.
If the electrician has made a poor installation, it is highly possible that the screws and other bolts connecting the fixture to the ceiling could loosen as it wobbles. This will be the same if the homeowner fails to observe regular maintenance.
So how can we prevent such mishaps? First and foremost, the most important thing to bear is regular maintenance of your ceiling fan.
Regular maintenance doesn’t necessarily have to be a monthly routine due to the expenses involved in the process. You can do so once every six months to keep your ceiling fan in tip-top condition and avoid accidents.
And then it is also essential to contact your local electrician when you hear any unusual being emitted from the ceiling fan or when the fixture blades are starting to become unstable.
One popular example of a ceiling fan falling is a viral video from Vietnam, where a family happily enjoys dinner when the fixture unexpectedly malfunctions and falls on them.
As a result, most of the family members sustain injuries. Luckily, the child in the video has only a minor injury which is no less than a miracle, as the article puts it.
Can a Ceiling Fan Cut Your Head Off?
It is highly unlikely that the blades would chop your head off. What’s likely to happen is that the blades would cause physical injuries like bruising, minor to major lacerations, or even breaking of the neck when it makes contact with your neck.
However, the energy from a rotating ceiling fan blade’s momentum is believed to cause major nerve and tissue damage.
This is also the same case if the blade collides with your head. The person may suffer a concussion or related traumatic brain injury.
Has a Ceiling Fan Killed Anyone?
Even at maximum speed, the ceiling fan cannot cause deaths or major injuries, as far as I am concerned. It is hard to find any deaths related to the ceiling fan falling or when someone interacts with the blades.
Although high-end ceiling fans weigh around 10 to 20 pounds, while some even weigh 40 pounds, these fixtures are extremely sturdy and won’t fall off easily.
When unexpected happens, the ceiling fan would be suspended 7 feet from the ground. Now, that won’t cause any physical injuries at all, considering the average height of people around the globe is around 5 to 6 feet.
Also, there would be an allowance of 1 to 2 feet from your head to the ceiling fan.
How Many People a Year Are Killed By Ceiling Fans?
Ceiling fan deaths are extremely rare but could happen, given the poor installation or failure to observe regular maintenance.
There is no official report of any deaths related to a ceiling fan malfunction. The unofficial statistic gives us a figure of 7 to 10 deaths per year in the United States.
