Heavy Machinery Accidents: Tragic and Preventable

HEAVY MACHINERY ACCIDENTS & INJURIES

NYC CONSTRUCTION INJURY ATTORNEYS FOCUSED ON MACHINERY ACCIDENTS

There are many different construction site accidents associated with heavy equipment such as cranes, bulldozers, front-end loaders, dump trucks, excavators and the like. Such heavy equipment is a necessity on nearly every construction project. In July, 2019 in the Bronx, a 47-year-old welder was struck and killed by an excavator bucket at a concrete-recycling plant.

Around a thousand construction workers are killed on job sites every year in the US. And that number’s gradually increased every year since 2013 according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). An alarming number of those deaths and injuries were caused by heavy equipment. Most occurred when the victim was either struck by moving equipment, or caught-in or between heavy machinery and another impediment (wall, another machine, etc).

Struck-By Accidents: the Most Common

Struck-by incidents are one of the biggest fatality accidents according to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA): about 75 percent.

That’s why it’s everyone’s responsibility to look out for each other while working around heavy equipment. Work areas where heavy machinery is must be clearly marked and barricaded. Non-essential foot traffic should be prohibited in these restricted work areas. Ground personnel entering these work areas must make their presence known to all machine operators, spotters, and ground crew.

Operators should avoid backing whenever possible. And they should stop work if they lose sight of any ground personnel.  Groundworkers should also keep watch on the operator. And if they lose sight of him in the cab’s mirrors, they must leave immediately or make their presence known to a spotter.

Spotters, the Traffic Cops for Heavy Machinery on a Construction Site

A spotter should be used if the equipment is operating in a tight area, or around any ground personnel. And these people must be on their toes and aware of not only the position and tasks of the heavy equipment operator but all ground personnel in close proximity to the machine’s work area. Other things spotters need to keep in mind are:

• Never walk behind the equipment while spotting. Instead, stand in the area where the equipment is going and flag the operator toward you.
• Agree on hand signals with equipment operators beforehand.
• Operators should stop anytime they lose sight of the spotter.
• Inspect the work area for hazards or fixed objects the equipment could strike (or ground workers, etc might trip over) and remove them.

The Other Safety Threat: Caught-in/betweens

They’re very similar to struck-bys; but different too. A struck-by is when an object strikes the victim and causes the injury. A caught-in/between is an injury due to being pinned or crushed between two objects. An excavator bucket swinging around and striking a person in an open field – like the incident in the Bronx – is a struck-by incident.

An excavator counterweight that turns and pins a person against, for example, a wall is a caught-in (or between) incident. Many of the same safeguards discussed in the “struck-by” portion of this article will protect workers from being involved in caught-in or between incidents. That’s why ground workers should always leave themselves an “out” when working hear heavy machinery.

Everyone on a construction site must look out for themselves and each other by paying attention to any indications of malfunctions or other problems with any heavy machinery at the job site.

Heavy machinery and hazardous equipment are common at construction sites. These are large vehicles that are intended to perform different kinds of operations, such as lifting, digging, and moving large quantities of mud, soil, or lose rocks. Some examples of heavy machinery used in the construction industry include:

• Backhoes
• Bulldozers
• Cable/Hammer Tractors
• Drills
• Excavators
• Haul Trucks
• Loaders
• Trenchers

No matter what security measures are in place and even with the most well-trained operator, accidents are bound to happen in the workplace. The accidents involving heavy machinery can be catastrophic. Cuts. Burns. Slips. Falls. Broken bones. Paralysis. Nerve damage. And even wrongful deaths. These workplace injuries happen every day.

If you have been injured by any heavy machinery or workplace equipment due to someone else’s negligence, you have the right to receive the compensation you deserve. You may be eligible for workers’ compensation and you may be able to receive additional compensation through a personal injury claim. You may have additional claims against responsible third parties such as contractors, subcontractors, property owners, and equipment manufacturers, whose negligence could have contributed to your machinery accident.  Contact a qualified New York City Machinery Accident Lawyer at Kalra Law Firm to see if you have a valid claim.

The construction injury lawyers of The Kalra Law Firm in New York City know what it means to suffer from a construction equipment accident. We’re among the most effective lawyers providing representation for your personal injury litigation. Our lawyers have dealt with construction accidents involving heavy machinery and we will help identify all the responsible parties and get you the compensation you deserve from those responsible parties.

Call to schedule a free initial consultation at 718-897-2211.

About Kalra Law Firm

NYC Construction Injury Lawyers from Kalra Law Firm have recuperated millions of dollars for our clients. The toll of serious injury can be tremendous on you and your loved ones. We have devoted ourselves to fighting for justice and to making sure you receive the compensation you deserve. With Law Offices in Queens, Long Island, Corona, and The Bronx We are ready to serve you today.