8 Crucial Tips On When To Part Ways With Old Folding Chairs

The lifespan of your folding chair is determined by many factors. Different chairs have different lifespans, weight ratings, and structural designs that vary from each manufacturer. If you keep a stock of folding chairs for events, or own your own company that rents them out, you have to go through your inventory chair by chair to make sure they are still able to be used. You can find reports of chairs collapsing, fingers and toes getting caught in the frame during the fall, and other serious injuries including broken arms, wrists, fractured pelvises, and even in some cases concussions. Injuries can occur to people if they sit in a folding chair that doesn't meet a certain criteria. When going through your inventory, here are some questions to ask yourself if you think your chair has bit the dust:

• When was the chair purchased? If it's over 10 years old, you may want to retire it, since collapses are more likely on older chairs.
• Has it been recalled by the manufacturer? Numerous types of folding chairs are recalled each year, sometimes decades after production. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (http://www.cpsc.gov) keeps track of product recalls.
• Are the legs firmly attached with all hardware in good working order?
• Are there any rust spots, jagged pieces or breaks in the metal that could cut, jab or otherwise injure a member?
• If the chair is wooden, does the chair show any signs of dry rot, molding, or instability? Any significant damage to a chair represents a hazard to those who use it.
• Do the chair legs firmly and securely contact the floor or are they uneven and "wobbly?" If you sit in the chair, does it move back and forth or remain stationary? If there is significant movement, the chair should be tossed.
• Has the chair been repaired multiple times in the past? Chairs that have been "mended" by applying duct tape to the legs or a chair held together through other jury rigged methods should be thrown out. (Repairing the folding chair's foot caps multiple times are ok and should not be considered a reason to toss your old chair. Foot caps after several uses need to be replaced. That would be like tossing your new car because it needs new tires.)
• Do you feel safe in the chair? Would you feel comfortable placing your child or grandchild on the chair? If you answer "no", it would be a good idea to get rid of the chair. After all, if you don't feel safe, would anyone else?

I recommend running through this list when counting inventory, that way you don't have to take any extra time from your day to check the structure of your folding chairs.

These tips and info are by VFW Post Insurance, to help prevent future unexpected incidents from occurring.