If you work in the manufacturing or construction industry, you no doubt understand that occupational hazards can cause serious injuries and even death.
While proper maintenance of equipment, compliance with safety rules and proper vigilance can reduce the risk of sustaining catastrophic injuries or death, construction projects are inherently dangerous. While there are numerous hazards present on a construction site, heavy machinery poses a particularly serious threat to both the operators and those working around them. In this post, our St. Louis work injury lawyer will talk about the risk of heavy machinery accidents on construction sites.
Heavy Machinery on Construction Sites
Construction sites usually have a lot of moving parts, so any carelessness, distraction and defective parts can cause injuries to workers. There are several types of heavy machinery that can pose a threat to those present on construction sites. These include:
- Truck Crane
- Excavator
- Bulldozer
- Side Loader
- Wheel Loader
- Forklift
- Dump Truck
- Asphalt Paver
- Bucket Truck
- Tractor Truck
- Boom & Arm
This list is far from exhaustive, and there are many other types of heavy machinery used on a construction site. There are several ways in which people get injured in heavy machinery accidents, which include:
- Operators being injured when equipment rolls over
- Crashes involving other motor vehicles
- Running over workers on the ground
- Objects falling from cranes
- Improperly attached booms
- Improper safety procedures
- Rushed work
- Reckless behaviors
- Bad weather
These are just some of the type of heavy machinery accidents that can cause serious and even life threatening injuries on construction sites. These injuries often cause long periods of disability and can jeopardize the financial stability of the family.
In a recent case reported in another state, a construction worker working in collaboration with a heavy machinery operator was mowed down to death when the operator failed to notice the worker on the ground. There are several such accidents reported each year. Many of these accidents can be avoided by following better safety procedures, through better worker training and proper maintenance of heavy machinery.
Common Injuries From Heavy Machinery Accidents
Heavy machinery accidents often cause serious and disabling injuries. Some of the common injuries reported are:
- Broken bones
- Crush injuries
- Spinal cord injuries
- Head injuries
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Internal organ injuries
Seeking Compensation for Heavy Machinery Accidents
An injured heavy machinery operator can generally claim workers compensation benefits from their employer. However, these benefits are typically limited to medical and disability benefits. If the heavy machinery accident was a result of third party negligence, the worker may be able to file a personal injury claim against the third party.