Lifting Equipment Failure
Construction accidents happen each year in many states due to the fact that construction is a booming business in today’s modern times. Accidents happening in construction zones can range anywhere from minor to catastrophic, and fatalities are known to occur depending on seriousness. Often times when you hear about construction injuries, they are more on the serious side such as amputations, blindness, broken bones, burns, traumatic brain injury, and more. Some of the main causes include defective products, defective machines, inadequate safety or equipment training, or just general recklessness with co-workers or an employer. Heavy equipment in the workplace can be extremely dangerous when used improperly. If there is equipment in the workplace meant to do heavy lifting, it can cause damage if it injures a worker. Find out more about these serious injuries and how they can be prevented in construction.
What is Lifting Equipment?
In a construction zone, lifting equipment refers to any equipment that is used at work for lifting or lowering loads. This may even include attachments for anchoring, fixing, or supporting. Some examples are cranes, forklifts, hoists, mobile elevating platforms, and vehicle inspection platforms. At any time, equipment of this weight and size may cause injury when not used properly. Why is lifting equipment safety important for any employee to remember when working?
- It is very possible that a construction employee will be hit and injured by the moving parts on machinery, which is why it is important to follow safety measures. Prevention is also key for preventing parts of the body from being drawn in or trapped between rollers, belts, chains, and pulley drives.
- Sharp edges on equipment can cause cuts and severing injuries that lead to amputation in the most serious cases.
- It is possible that people will be crushed between parts moving together or towards a fixed part of the machine.
- Equipment or attachments can become unreliable or even faulty when maintenance is not proper or those using the equipment are not properly trained.
The Dangers Are Real
Fatal accidents happen all the time in construction zones, and the sad fact of the matter is that they can often times be prevented. Lifting equipment disasters cause some of these fatalities each year. For instance, each year there are fatal accidents that include the collapse of cranes and workers being struck by fallen or swinging objects. In 2002, the number was 8 and in 2006, the number rose to 12! Each life lost is one that can be seen as a death prevented.
Mistakes Made in the Workplace
Of course, there are measures that are not taken and safety precautions that go ignored in construction work all the time. Here are some of the most common issues:
- No risk assessment being conducted for lifting
- Lack of lifting plans and hazard analysis
- Poor control and maintenance of equipment
- Poor site control (workers being allowed to walk or work under loads in a lifting zone)
So where do you turn when you have sustained a construction work injury and you feel at a loss? At Maggiano, DiGirolamo & Lizzi, you can be assured you have a team of attorneys who are good at what they do – seeking compensation and rights for those who have sustained a serious personal injury. We have experience in construction injuries and can help you every step of the way… call today!
