How Dangerous Is Machinery Used at Construction Sites?The construction site can be a dangerous place: Many of the machines and heavy machinery used on construction sites can be used improperly of malfunction. Construction site machinery causes smashed fingers or hands, amputations, blindness, burns, and broken bones which are all commonplace injuries on worksites. A few thousand OSHA citations are issued for dangerous machinery during a calendar year.
Most of the machines with moving parts used on construction sites can be dangerous if used improperly or without proper safety precautions.
How to safeguard against injury?
Here are three basic areas of machines that need to be safeguarded:
- Point of operation areas: Where the work is performed on the material is an important area to put safeguards (i.e. where cutting or shaping takes place) in place
- Transmission areas: Parts that transmit energy to the part of the machine that does the work should be carefully safeguarded (i.e. flywheels, pulleys, belts, and connecting rods)
- Other moving parts areas: All of the parts of the machine that are in motion when the machine is working should be safeguarded (i.e. rotating parts and feeding devices)
Other machine hazards include:
- Rotating members
- Reciprocating arms
- Moving belts
- Cutting teeth
Common movements and actions can cause machines to catch clothing or move a body part into a dangerous position. Your employer is required by OSHA to remedy any dangers or hazards. Depending on the cause of your injury you may be able to file a claim under OSHA against your employer or against the manufacturer of the machine.
Have you been injured by a machine at your work place or construction site?
Do you need a New Jersey defective products lawyer?
An experienced construction accident lawyer can advise whether you have a claim under OSHA or a products liability claim.
