Machinery is often a necessity in the workplace, but it also comes with risks. Many workplace accidents and injuries revolve around the use of this machinery, and injuries can happen when employees make mistakes or when machines malfunction.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention refers to many of these safety issues as contact injuries. They note that this can happen even when some machines have been turned off. Below are a few common types of contact injuries to keep in mind.
Entanglement injuries
First and foremost, workers can be caught in or caught between moving parts of a machine. An example is a worker who gets tangled in a conveyor belt. With many types of heavy machinery, these incidents are so serious that they become fatal accidents, which is why caught-between incidents are one of OSHA’s “Focus Four.”
Amputation injuries
Many machines have the potential to cause amputation injuries. These could involve arms, legs, hands, feet or even just a person’s fingertip. This can happen when the person gets caught between moving parts, if they are exposed to a cutting surface—such as a circular saw—and in many other ways. It is often a risk with hydraulic presses, for example, where crush injuries are possible.
Burn injuries
Finally, machines can sometimes lead to burn injuries. This could be a malfunction where the machine itself catches on fire. But burns can also happen when a worker inadvertently touches a hot surface, even if there is not an exposed heat source. Electrical burns and chemical burns are also possible.
All of these injuries can be catastrophic, and many, such as amputations, can leave a person with permanent injuries. It is crucial for injured workers to know what legal options they have.