Will Mann

A rental store rented an auger to a customer who was using it to clear out a commode at his residence. At some point, the customer claimed the belt that turns the engine slipped and caught his finger, amputating it above the knuckle.

After discovery and an engineering inspection, it was determined that the plastic guard that protected the user from the belt was not in place at the time of the rental. This was supported by the fact that all other similar augers available for rent at the store had the guard in place. The auger in question had the nut that was used to hold the guard in place in the proper position, but no guard.

The attorney for the rental store, feeling that there was some negligence on the part of the rental store, settled the case prior to going to trial.

Always make sure your machines are ready to rent and that there are no defects. Ready-to-rent tags are a great way to prevent incidents like this one from occurring. 

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This item, provided by ARA Insurance, Kansas City, Mo., is the story of a real-life insurance claim involving a rental store and is intended to help readers better understand and manage risk. For more safety and risk management information, customers of ARA Insurance can log on to ReSource. Access is free, so if you haven’t signed up yet, contact your agent or call 800-821-6580.