Wrestling a machine (503 hits)
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Submitted by Donne Fan (View user info) at 2005-01-11 10:30:05 EST
Floor Buffer Sucked Into MRI Machine
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Jan 10, 11:25 PM (ET)
SEATTLE (AP) - An expensive MRI machine at Virginia Mason Medical Center sustained at least $200,000 in damage when a metal floor buffer was mistakenly placed nearby and was sucked in by the machine's powerful magnets, a television station reports.
The accident happened Jan. 3 when a member of the housekeeping staff improperly took the buffer near the machine, despite a warning sign not to use metal objects near it, KIRO-TV reported Monday night.
Virginia Mason spokesmen did not respond to repeated Associated Press phone messages for comment left Monday night with hospital switchboard operators.
MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) machines are sophisticated diagnostic tools used to provide detailed pictures of the body's interior.
The magnets used are so powerful it is not uncommon to hear of large pieces of equipment being pulled into the machines.
Several hospital employees worked on removing the buffer. According to a hospital incident report cited by KIRO, one worker lost an earring and another had his hearings aids destroyed.
The hospital plans some staff retraining, KIRO reported.
Any time you are frustrated with what you feel is a lack of competence by the person who is bagging your groceries or doing another not very fun job, ask yourself if you would do the job as a competent reasonably intelligent person. If the answer is no, just be glad you dont have to do it. I feel somewhat bad for the janitorial staff at the hospital, but the image of them wrestling with this buffer while doing 200k damage to the MRI machine is pretty hilarious.
User Reviews
Submitted by Feijuada (user info) at 2005-01-11 12:09:53 EST (#)
Ranking: 1
I was in an MRi machine once. It was boring as hell.
Submitted by BLITZKREIG_BOB (user info) at 2005-01-11 11:59:06 EST (#)
Ranking: 1
Couldn't they shield the magnets in the machine?
Must...stop...being....a....dork....
Submitted by xenon (user info) at 2005-01-11 11:20:40 EST (#)
Ranking: 1
what morons!
good find
Submitted by boomslang (user info) at 2005-01-11 11:08:35 EST (#)
Ranking: 1
"the image of them wrestling with this buffer while doing 200k damage to the MRI machine is pretty hilarious."
hilarious, indeed.
Submitted by TheSpook (user info) at 2005-01-11 10:45:59 EST (#)
Ranking: 1
I don't feel bad for them. They are fucking idiots to get that close to those machines with any metal on. I'm involved on designing where to put one of those machines and it is a pain in the ass.
All these saftey measures does not prevent the stupidity of others. It is, however, funny as hell.