Again - I have chosen to place the OP on post #2 for 'editability' -- Thank you!

 

Kind friends:
I felt this subject might constitute an interesting thread -- I hope you agree!

Any and all submissions coming under: "who the 'H' thought that would be a good idea?!!!" on the consumer electronics/'electrics' 'front' are welcome! -- Household wiring products, etc... are 'in bounds' too!

So... With no further ado here's my submission:

The Crawler Caller
Product category: Sporting Goods.
Nature of hazard: Electric shock.
Said device is comprised of one or more brass stakes which, having been driven into the ground, are thence connected to the 'hot' side of a residential electrical service -- whether owing to electrophobia or the acoustic effects corollary to the attendant electrostrictive phenomena (a disputed point to this day though, FWIW, I favor the former) any annelids occupying the surrounding soil emerge in veritable 'droves' -- No! Not as a (behaviourally altered) feeding-frenzy of ravenous carnivores (as per urban [rural?] legend) -- But as free-of-charge (NPI) freshwater fishing bait

The damage done:
-Many fatalities among those unwise in the ways of 'voltage' gradients.
-Several fatalities involving those whom, although being quite well - even professionally - 'acquainted' with electricity -- Made that single misstep that was one too many!
-And, IMO, most tragically/inexcusably -- Fatalities of children whose parents (apparently) believed a ground-referenced 'live wire' qualified as a 'toy'

Needless to say 'Crawler Callers' and their ilk were recalled amongst a veritable flurry of lawsuits...

FWIW -- My cognizance of said device owes to the presence of a 'specimen' in the estate of a predecessor -- It is quite possible that I owe my 'survival of childhood' to my (well-nigh) erstwhile revulsion for annelids!


Very best regards
HP

 

How about cell phones? Idiots use them while driving and while even walking - oblivious to everyone / everything around them.

 

I have to go with automobiles. The death rate for automobiles is only exceeded by tobacco, alcohol, and physicians.
http://seggleston.com/1/wp-content/custom/ds_index.php

Not an electrical/electronic device?
Maybe not, but worth a mention.
Physicians are also not electrical appliances, but they are the second leading cause of death in the U.S. at 4.6 x the death rate for automobiles.

 

I got nothin' on this one.

I do and work with at least 50 things every day that all have at some point killed thousands to millions of people throughout history.

If it exists someone has managed to die from it somehow.

The potential to kill doesn't make something unsafe. The inability to recognize and properly use or do whatever it is is the reason why whatever it is could kill you.

Operator error is not the fault of the machine.

 

Physicians are also not electrical appliances, but they are the second leading cause of death in the U.S. at 4.6 x the death rate for automobiles.

I dunno... The inability to 'repair' something that's already 'broken' is hardly tantamount to 'vandalism' itself --- That said, considering the time, money and technology invested in said field -- it's a poor showing indeed!

Best regards
HP

 

I got nothin' on this one.

I do and work with at least 50 things every day that all have at some point killed thousands to millions of people throughout history.

If it exists someone has managed to die from it somehow.

The potential to kill doesn't make something unsafe. The inability to recognize and properly use or do whatever it is is the reason why whatever it is could kill you.

Operator error is not the fault of the machine.

Indeed! -- Given the 'wiles of idiocy' or mere 'bad luck' anything (down to and including 'Nurf' toys) can be lethal -- Hence my focus on egregious marketing blunders

Very best regards
HP

 

The electric chair. Everyone who has ever used on has either died or came out of their experience severely injured.

 

Angle grinders, and to a lesser degree bench mount grinders.
I've seen, with my own eyes, a friend mangle his knee cap and thigh using an angle grinder Required many stitches.
Put a wire wheel on my bench grinder to clean a lawn mower blade before I sharpened it. I was wearing a full face shield. Three wires came loose and entered my bicep on my right arm. Hurt a lot more than you might imagine.
I use a vice, a wire brush and metal files to sharpen blades now. More work, and it takes longer. I think I can deal with the inefficiency.

 

Indeed! -- Given the 'wiles of idiocy' or mere 'bad luck' anything (down to and including 'Nurf' toys) can be lethal -- Hence my focus on egregious marketing blunders

Very best regards
HP

Hazardous consumer goods get the benefit of quick notice and rapid removal/replacement. Much more deadly by number would be "cultural" or lifestyle decisions. Cars, guns, alcohol, drugs, take out many more people. Even cultural / life style of the medical "industry" that refuses to open up and share root-cause analysis, and best practices. If they would, medical accidents and other hospital/clinical failures would not kill so many people (about 100k deaths per year according to the CDC). Death by medical mistake is about double the number by car accident and firearms combined.

To answer your question, it is the automatic door that lets you into the hospital emergency room.

 

The electric chair. Everyone who has ever used on has either died or came out of their experience severely injured.

 

The electronic voting machine.

 

The electronic voting machine.

The hanging chads were not from electric machines.

 

How long has it been since we went from voting in the best candidate, to voting in the least bad candidate.

 

Hazardous consumer goods get the benefit of quick notice and rapid removal/replacement. Much more deadly by number would be "cultural" or lifestyle decisions. Cars, guns, alcohol, drugs, take out many more people. Even cultural / life style of the medical "industry" that refuses to open up and share root-cause analysis, and best practices. If they would, medical accidents and other hospital/clinical failures would not kill so many people (about 100k deaths per year according to the CDC). Death by medical mistake is about double the number by car accident and firearms combined.

Death by medical error OR death that might have been prevented sans error? --- I realize I may appear to be arguing semantics -- Furthermore, even where a distinction is seen to exist -- the described situation is, of course, unacceptable...

the medical "industry" that refuses to open up and share root-cause analysis, and best practices. If they would, medical accidents and other hospital/clinical failures would not kill so many people

How truly money (CIP "proprietarianism") is often 'the root of all evil' -- But since, as history has amply demonstrated, neither pure capitalism nor pure socialism is favorable to human rights - we can but hope for a compromise -- sadly, I see little chance of that anytime soon

Very best regards
HP

PS --- You (all) will please excuse me -- however I really must 'get this off my chest' -- As a rule physicians/surgeons (and other staff) are not the problem! --- Medical institutions, however, are!

 

How long has it been since we went from voting in the best candidate, to voting in the least bad candidate.

That's how's it's been all my daze (sic)!

 

-- As a rule physicians/surgeons (and other staff) are not the problem! --- Medical institutions, however, are!

Institutions like liability/malpractice insurance companies preventing full review of processes and procedures. And they are hiding from their "competitors", the ambulance chasing attorneys.

 

Angle grinders, and to a lesser degree bench mount grinders.
I've seen, with my own eyes, a friend mangle his knee cap and thigh using an angle grinder Required many stitches.
Put a wire wheel on my bench grinder to clean a lawn mower blade before I sharpened it. I was wearing a full face shield. Three wires came loose and entered my bicep on my right arm. Hurt a lot more than you might imagine.
I use a vice, a wire brush and metal files to sharpen blades now. More work, and it takes longer. I think I can deal with the inefficiency.

I hear ya! I am reminded of 'Dremel" wire brush 'bristles' -- hair fine and they get everywhere! -- Worst of all they're fashioned of 'stainless' -- And, hence, tend to be persistent if inadvertently ingested

Best regards
HP

 

Institutions like liability/malpractice insurance companies preventing full review of processes and procedures. And they are hiding from their "competitors", the ambulance chasing attorneys.

To those I would add hospitals, clinics and 'combines' (i.e. the 'rot' doesn't stop with their solicitors) -- Guess I'm one of those 'old fashioned' types who prioritizes human health over wealth... Unchecked negligence (on one hand) and rationed 'care' (on the other) are species of fascism -- plain and simple -- If 'society' cannot afford healthcare (including robust research programs) then, IMO, we've made no significant progress as a species....

Sorry to sound so 'political'...

Best regards
HP

 

I just thought of another one! --- Anyone recall those "line 'voltage' verifying screwdrivers"? -- Many of them featured an unballasted NE2 lamp... One lead to the test prod, the other to a metal plate atop the tool which the user was encouraged to contact such that his/her body would act as an antenna! ---- Of course, should the user inadvertently contact ground... Better not to dwell on it.... --- Incredibly, such 'conveniences' were available 'hereabouts' as recently as five years ago!

Best regards
HP