About Unsafe Machinery Claims
Employers are required to furnish a safe work environment for employees; this includes the provision of safe machinery and equipment for work. A safe machine is one that has a minimal risk of causing injuries or accidents to workers, and includes the presence of appropriate safeguards in the form of barriers and devices that can prevent injuries. Examples of unsafe machinery in the workplace include:
- Machinery with an exposed flywheel
- Equipment with an unguarded cutter, blade, pulley belt or emery wheel
- Electrical machinery that is improperly insulated, has loose or exposed wires or insufficient grounding
- Equipment with powered doors that lack warning alarms
- Derricks or cranes that are defective or poorly maintained
- Machinery with rotating or moving parts, including food slicers, meat grinders, wood chippers, logging equipment, grinding tools, or punching machines
Preventing Accidents Relating to Unsafe Equipment
The operation of machinery that lacks effective safety devices or components can result in accidents leading to amputation injuries, crushing injuries, or even death. It is obviously in the best interest of many people to seek to not only protect those who have been injured in these types of accidents, but also to prevent these from occurring in the future. Some tips for prevention include:
- Any unsafe machinery in the work place must be properly guarded so that workers are discouraged from entering the work area.
- There must be effective safeguards that prevent workers from putting their hands into dangerous points of operation inside the machine.
- Workers who are responsible for operating the machine must be provided protective equipment that minimizes the risk of injuries.
- Special attention to workers' safety must be paid not only during the operation of the machinery, but also during cleaning and repair.
- There must be proper procedures in place that ensure that machines have their power supply turned off during maintenance and cleaning.
- Non-essential personnel must be restricted from entry into work areas that contain pieces of unsafe machinery.
- Any malfunction or fault in a machine must be repaired as soon as it is observed and the equipment must be removed from service until all repairs have been completed.
Employers may not be able to avoid having large and potentially dangerous machinery in the workplace, but they are required to install safety devices, train workers in the use of dangerous machinery, provide for a clear view of the work area and post warning signs to maintain a safe working environment. So, for example, having a large hydraulic press in a plant does not itself violate any safety standards, but the failure to provide guards to cover dangerous parts of the equipment can be a violation.
Contact an industrial accident lawyer from our firm today!
If you have recently been victimized in an accident involving unsafe or malfunctioning machinery, it is in your best interests to get the involvement of an industrial injury attorney that you can trust. At Arnold & Itkin, LLP we have shown over the years that we can be trusted with even the most complex of litigation. Our firm has a full-bodied understanding of personal injury law – we know the best ways in which we can help our clients to put their lives back on track once more. So don't waste another moment. When you have this much at stake, you do not have the luxury of wasting time. Give us a call today and let us get started in the fight to defend your best interests.
To learn more about how we can help you to file a claim, please do not hesitate to contact an industrial accident lawyer from our legal team as soon as you can.