If you operate or maintain machinery, you should be aware of how critical it is to use caution when working with the machines. People who misuse machines or use them without proper training run the risk of being seriously injured on the job.
However, there is only so much a person can do to avoid an accident if the machinery is unsafe to begin with. In fact, according to this recent article, two factors outside of operator error can lead to severe accidents and injuries. These factors include failed safeguards and non-compliance with safety regulations.
Failed safeguards
Machines that have been manufactured recently should be among the safest available, thanks to the various technologies that can prevent accidents.
However, despite all these features, many companies fail to meet appropriate safety standards. This is due, in part, to the fact that many machines are manufactured in countries where regulations are not as rigid as other countries. Buyers should therefore be aware of where machines are coming from and how safe they actually are.
Failure to comply with safety guidelines
Too many employers feel that standards from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration are suggestions or recommendations. This leads them to believe they do not have to comply with the standards.
However, employers have a responsibility to provide a safe workplace for employees, and this includes clearing out unsafe machines and complying with OSHA machine guarding regulations. Should an employer violate OSHA regulations, the agency will issue citations.
Know your rights if you are injured by a machine at work
Roughly 18,000 people suffer crushing injuries, amputations and lacerations from machinery in the workplace every year; hundreds more are killed. It is a very real problem for workers here in Florida and across the U.S.
Whatever the reason may be for a machine accident to occur, it is crucial that workers injured by unsafe machinery know their rights. In many cases, it is possible to collect workers’ compensation in addition to damages from a negligence claim against a third party.