Kaye Posture Control Walker - sizes W2, W3, W4L (excluding seated walkers)

Walkers supplied between 1st January 2007 - 17th December 2007  / FSCA-identifier: 190508

Description of the problem:Field Safety Notice has been raised to make people aware of a reported instance of a hand tube nut coming away during daily use of a Kaye Walker (please be advised that no injury was sustained). Following an extensive investigation, we believe that this failure was due to assembly operative error as it is feasible that an assembly operative failed to sufficiently tighten the nut on the hand U tube.

Potential Risk: There is a perceived risk that the walker’s hand tube could drop on one side should the affected nut and bolt come away simultaneously during use. Potentially this could temporarily disorientate the user of the walker and, if unsupervised, this could in extremely rare circumstances, result in a stumble or fall. Evidence following replicated tests would suggest that the nuts concerned would only loosen on a progressive basis and would not simply just drop off. In our own in-house tests, Quest 88 engineers have had to knock through the bolts with a nylon mallet in order to remove them, demonstrating that the bolt will not simply drop out should a nut unfasten, however it would be foolish for us to be complacent. The product user manual emphasises the importance of checking nuts and bolts regularly on Kaye Walkers, particularly if used by heavier users with
erratic and awkward gait.

For a full copy of the field safety notice and and details on any follow up action please contact Quest 88 Limited.