Working with heavy machinery is dangerous by nature. Safety issues such as a lack of worker training or a missing machine guard can result in severe worker injuries or deaths. Machinery-related injuries are often classified as catastrophic, meaning they inflict a high level of damage on those involved. If you or a loved one suffered an injury from machinery in Texas, you may be eligible for financial compensation. Speak with a San Antonio personal injury lawyer for legal guidance and support.
Amputations
Heavy machines have many moving parts. If a worker becomes entangled in these parts, the force of the machinery against the body could lead to a traumatic limb amputation. A machine that is missing its safety guard, for example, may pull a worker’s arm into the machinery, resulting in a loss of limb. Contact with blades, gears, conveyor belts or presses can lead to a loss of fingers, hands or other limbs.
Severe Lacerations
Many machines have blades or knives used for cutting and shearing. The unsafe use or misuse of these machines could lead to severe cuts and laceration injuries. These worker injuries can result in tendon or ligament damage, nerve damage, and permanent scarring or disfigurement. They may require stitches or surgery to repair the damage.
Crush Injuries
Machines that are used to compress things could cause severe crush injuries if a worker gets caught in the equipment. Other moving parts on the machine could also cause crush injuries, such as moving gears or belts. Finally, a worker could suffer a crush injury from being squeezed between the machine and a wall or stationary object. Crush injuries can include broken bones, soft-tissue damage, spinal cord injuries, internal injuries, amputations and fatal injuries.
Face and Eye Injuries
The incorrect or unsafe use of a machine could lead to flying debris that injures the face or eyes. Debris, shrapnel, sparks or chemical splashes from various machines could cause corneal abrasions, vision loss, facial lacerations, broken bones, dental injuries and burn injuries. These injuries can often be prevented by using the machine correctly and wearing safety gear, such as goggles or a face shield.
Internal Injuries
If a worker’s midsection or abdomen gets crushed or impacted in a machine-related accident, this can cause serious internal injuries. The worker may suffer internal bleeding, organ damage or organ failure due to the incident. In some cases, internal injuries can be fatal. Keeping a worker away from the moving parts of a machine can help prevent these accidents.
Who Is Responsible for Machine-Related Injuries at Work?
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 738 worker deaths in 2022 were machinery related. Employers in Texas have a legal responsibility to ensure the safety of machine workers by taking measures such as installing machine guarding, regularly inspecting and repairing machinery, and properly training workers on how to safely use machines and equipment.
If an employer fails to ensure machine worker safety, the company could be held responsible for a worker injury or death. The victim or victim’s family may be eligible for financial compensation through a workers’ compensation claim or personal injury lawsuit. Other parties may also bear responsibility, such as the manufacturer of a defective machine.
If you get injured while working with a machine, contact a San Antonio work injury attorney at Hill Law Firm Accident and Injury Attorneys for a free consultation about who may be responsible. We can help you seek maximum compensation for a serious or permanent machine-related injury.