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Darwin Awards
2008 Slush Pile

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Blown Lung

2008 Reader Submission
Pending Acceptance

I worked at a Walmart store in Fayetteville, Arkansas in the early 1990's when this story took place. This happened at the same store I worked at, concerning a stocking clerk who worked 8:00 pm to 8:00 am.

Stockers and others who lifted heavy items were required to wear lumbar safety belts. These were uncomfortable and hot. This guy hated his support belt and refused to wear it in such a way that it supported his lower back. Instead he wore it about 3 inches below his armpits and was warned numerous times and "wrote up" multiple times for not using safety equipment properly.

One night he was suffering from an upper respiratory infection and was coughing very hard and managed to collapse a lung. Evidently, his improper placement of the belt would not allow his lungs to expand correctly.

I know for a fact that he was denied both worker's compensation and health insurance coverage for this experience due to the multiple warnings contained in his personnel file. He also lost his job.

Submitted on 04/08/2008

Submitted by: Deanna Muse
Reference: Unknown publication-early 1990's

Copyright © 2008 DarwinAwards.com

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Chip said:
Definitely Keep: Personal Account
Sounds a bit far-fetched to me. A belt would have to be awfully tight to collapse a lung and I can see no way it would cause an infection. Nevertheless, this is a Personal Account and humorous in the telling. We thank you.


James said:
Definitely Keep: Personal Account
In a way, I feel sorry for the guy, though he WAS warned! I'm a bit skeptical as to whether the cause of his collapsed lung was directly the result of how he wore the belt, but he apparently had little regard for authority and apparently paid the price! Thanks, Deanna!


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