In many industries, workers never come across potentially dangerous machines. Their jobs are relatively sedentary and quiet. On the other hand, there are thousands of employees who are required to work with heavy machinery, vehicles and equipment on a daily basis. It’s part of their job and thus unavoidable. Unfortunately, if you’re working in transportation, agriculture, construction, manufacturing and mining industries, you’re at a greater risk of injuries, accidents, and fatalities because of heavy machinery.
In this post, we’ll discuss some common causes of heavy machinery accidents and types of injuries workers suffer in these accidents.
Causes of Heavy Machinery Accidents
Falling Accidents
Sometimes heavy machinery is situated at an extreme height. If someone falls from such a great height, they can sustain critical injuries. Those injures may include fractures, traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord injuries and broken bones, among others.
Construction Accidents
Constructions accidents can happen to not just workers on the construction site but to anyone else present there as well. Operating heavy and dangerous machine is one of the major causes of a construction accident. A few dangerous equipments used at construction sites include diggers, forklifts, and cranes.
Crane Accidents
Crane accidents are a significant danger to workers as well as the public. Some causes of crane accidents include crane rigging failures, cranes overturning, crane mechanic failures, boom collapses, improper selection of crane, improper set-up of crane, cranes dropping heavy cargo, and cranes coming in contact with power lines.
Electrocution Accidents
Heavy machinery and work equipment are mostly powered by electricity. Due to this reason, workers using heavy equipment are in the vicinity of electrical wires. Electrocution accidents may occur if workers aren’t careful to avoid live wires or if proper safety precautions aren’t taken, for example, the wires aren’t insulated properly.
Forklift Accidents
Forklift is an invaluable tool for workers at a construction site who need to move heavy objects and materials across sites. But, when forklifts aren’t properly used or maintained, they can lead to accidents and create significant danger to the worker operating the vehicle or those nearby.
Scaffolding Accidents
Scaffolding is an important part of construction. There are different kinds of scaffolds available now, but all of them are temporary platforms off the ground. That is why workers who complete their job with the help of a scaffold are at risks of injury. Scaffold accidents generally occur because of faulty scaffolding, negligent supervisors and lack of training.
Trench Collapses
If a trench collapses, it can cause serious injuries to workers digging the trench. Injuries that workers may suffer include broken arm or leg, spinal cord injury and other serious injuries. Workers can also die due to a trench collapse because of the lack of oxygen. Some of the most common reasons for trench collapse include walls not support by trench boxes, trenches dig on disturbed soil, vibration of land around the area of trench because of vehicles operating near the trench and dried walls of the trench that make it weak.
Welding Accidents
Welding is a dangerous occupation as it involves risk of workplace injuries resulting from electricity, burns and toxic fumes. Several deaths from cutting and welding incidents are reported each year. Brain damage, eye injuries and respiratory illnesses are some common health hazards that may result from welding accidents.
Common Injuries After a Heavy Machinery Accident
Some of the most common injuries workers may suffer from a heavy machinery accident include:
- Broken bones
- Cuts and abrasions
- Nerve damage
- Sprained ankles and wrists
- Spinal cord injuries
Who Could Be Responsible for a Heavy Machinery Accident?
Sometimes heavy machinery accidents occur because of a mechanical failure. Other times, they’re the result of a worker’s negligence. Heavy machinery accidents can also occur due to failure of following appropriate safety regulations at the work place.
What to Do If You Sustain a Heavy Machinery Injury
If you’ve been injured by a piece of heavy equipment or machinery, you should immediately begin the claim filing process to ensure you get the monetary compensation you deserve from your employer. First, it’s important that you report the heavy machinery incident to your employer. Make sure to inform the employer as soon as you can as your claim may be denied if you’re too late. Your employer must report the incident and all your injuries to their insurance company. You should start seeking medical treatment as soon as you can after the accident. In workers’ compensation insurance cases, gaps in treatment are usually problematic.
While you’re seeking medical treatment for the injuries sustained in the heavy machinery accident, you shouldn’t have to pay your medical bills on your own. Instead, all the medical bills should be submitted to the insurance company by your employer. Those bills should be covered by the insurance company.
Searching for an Attorney for Heavy Machine Injuries
Injuries sustained due to heavy machinery or equipment may subject you to hefty medical bills. Not only that, but you may not be able to work and lose wages as a result. If you’ve sustained an injury because of heavy equipment, you might be able to pursue recovery through workers compensation. Workers’ compensation benefits may be provided to you regardless of whether you were at fault or not. If your employer makes it hard for you to recover monetary compensation under worker’s compensation coverage, contact Shiner Law Group at (561) 77-7700 for a free case consultation. We’ll evaluate your case and may help you recover compensation you’re entitled to.