5 Most Common Heavy Machinery Accident Causes
A number of heavy machines are used in the construction industry, such as bulldozers, cranes, dump trucks, and forklifts. While many people can confidently use these machines without incident, a number of people are injured and even killed each year involving heavy machinery. As a worker or employer, you might be curious about why so many workers don’t make it home to their families. The following factors often contribute to heavy machinery accidents.
A Lack of Training and Education
When you reach out to a lawyer to help you recover compensation for a heavy machinery-related incident, you might discuss how much training you had involving the machinery in your accident. Many workers in workplace accidents share one thing in common: a lack of training and education. Heavy machinery can be unforgiving, and if workers aren’t trained to repair, maintain, and operate equipment safely, they might be at risk of severe and even life-threatening injuries.
No Safety Equipment
Having safety equipment wouldn’t have prevented all 1.8 million of the reported work-related injuries in 2020, but there’s no denying that it might have prevented some of them. All workers in the construction industry should have, use, and know how to use safety equipment that protects their bodies from hazards they encounter every day. Without hard hats, eye and ear protection, gloves, and safety boots, those body parts might be more at risk of damage in an accident.
No Fall Protection
Falls are one of the leading causes of work-related injuries and deaths, with 38.7% of all workplace fatalities in the construction industry involving falls. Often, these injuries and deaths relate to an absence of guardrails or scaffolding and can sometimes be caused by faulty stairways, slippery flooring, and unstable walkways. According to OSHA, employers should use personal fall arrest systems, guardrail systems, and safety net systems to prevent falls that lead to injuries and death.
Employee Error
Some construction workers lose their lives due to mistakes they’ve made in the workplace. They might not have been paying attention or did something unsafe, leading to severe injuries or death. While worker error is a common accident cause, there can be contributing factors.
For example, they might have been distracted because they had been made to work long hours without a break. Alternatively, they might have operated a machine in an unsafe manner because they hadn’t been adequately trained on its safe use. Sometimes, operators can be to blame, but they aren’t the only responsible party. Employers can play an integral role in keeping their workers safe.
Maintenance Failures
Many legal websites discussing personal and worksite injuries mention how machinery maintenance can be a factor in heavy machinery accidents. While some business owners might not prioritize maintenance due to the expenses associated with it, a failure to maintain equipment might have serious consequences. Parts might fail and put worker lives at risk, and general wear and tear might cause machinery to become unpredictable and unsafe.
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