A power tool is a tool that operates with the use of a motor, as opposed to solely manual labor. Power tools include power drills, saws, and sanders, to name a few, and are used in various industries, including the construction industry. Heavy equipment includes large equipment that is used on construction sites, including diggers, cranes, earth movers, bulldozers, jackhammers, and motor vehicles, such as dump trucks.
Construction sites are a common location for on-the-job injuries. For example, according to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, approximately 4,405 employees in the United States were severely injured or killed on the job last year.
One reason why power tools and heavy equipment are dangerous is that they have safety concerns associated with them. Users run the risk of being crushed or otherwise seriously hurt. Along with these safety concerns comes the potential for sustaining serious injuries.
f you have sustained an on-the-job injury as a result of exposure to power tools or heavy equipment, you have legal rights and options available to you. The personal injury and workers’ compensation lawyers at Dolman Law Group Accident Injury Lawyers, PA can help you explore all of your legal options and may be able to assist you with filing a workers’ compensation claim for benefits.
OSHA Regulations and Heavy Equipment
The owners of heavy equipment, including construction companies, have a duty to comply with all applicable OSHA regulations. OSHA regulations spell out certain requirements for specialized types of cranes, hoists, conveyors, elevators, and other heavy equipment. If a construction company or your employer violates an OSHA requirement, the consequences may include large fines and civil liability. The construction site or project may even be forced to shut down, pending full OSHA compliance.
How Accidents with Power Tools and Heavy Machinery Occur on Job Sites
On-the-job accidents involving power tools and heavy machinery sometimes occur because supervisors or others present on the job site behave in a careless or reckless manner. Some examples of job site negligence in this regard include:
- Failing to take the necessary precautionary measures
- Providing a weak structural foundation for heavy construction equipment
- Failing to properly maintain power tools and equipment
- Selecting improper equipment for a construction project
- Electrical hazards
- Improper training and experience
- Incompetent on-site supervisors or superintendents
- Improper equipment setup
Power Tools and Heavy Equipment Pose Significant Risks and Dangers
Power tools and heavy equipment can pose significant hazards on job sites. When an accidental injury occurs on a job site, the injured worker may be able to file a claim for workers’ compensation. Some dangers include:
Operational dangers – Since cranes, forklifts, diggers, vehicles, and other machines and tools consist of heavy parts, they have inherent dangers associated with them. These dangers, in turn, can result in on-the-job accidents and injuries.
Electrocution – Heavy work equipment and power tools, by their very nature, are powered by electricity. As a result, workers are in close proximity to electricity and electrical wires at all times. When workers expose themselves to electrocution, they can suffer burn injuries and even death.
Defective tools and equipment – Power tools and heavy machinery need to be maintained at all times and kept in good working condition. When equipment malfunctions due to improper maintenance, serious on-the-job injuries and fatalities may occur.
Slip-and-fall accidents – Heavy equipment is oftentimes situated high off the ground. If a worker falls from an extreme height, he or she can sustain serious injuries. Those injuries can include traumatic brain injuries (TBIs), fractures, broken bones, and spinal cord injuries, to name a few.
Transportation Accidents – Heavy machinery at work sites also includes large vehicles, such as dump trucks, diggers, jackhammers, and cranes. When these vehicles collide with other smaller vehicles—or with individuals working at the job site—serious accidents and injuries can result.
If you have sustained an on-the-job injury because of a power tool or heavy piece of machinery, the Clearwater workers’ compensation and personal injury lawyers at Dolman Law Group Accident Injury Lawyers, PA may be able to help guide you through the claims filing process.
Steps You Should Take after being Injured by a Power Tool or Piece of Heavy Machinery While on the Job
If you have been injured on the job by a power tool or piece of heavy machinery, you should begin the claims filing process as soon as possible, in order to help maximize the monetary recovery you receive in your case. First, you should report the accident to your employer as soon as possible. Otherwise, your claim could be denied. Your employer must then report the accident and all of your injuries to its insurance company. Finally, you should seek initial medical care and treatment as soon as possible following your accident. In workers’ compensation cases, significant gaps in medical treatment or physical therapy are usually very problematic.
While you are seeking medical care for the injuries you sustained in your work accident, you should not have to pay for your own medical bills. Instead, you employer should submit all of your medical bills to its insurance company. The insurance company should then cover those medical bills. If workers’ compensation coverage pays for your medical bills, the insurer may be able to assert a lien against any recovery you later obtain as part of a third-party settlement in a companion personal injury case.
Call a Clearwater, Florida Workers’ Compensation and Personal Injury Lawyer to Discuss Your Case Today
Injuries sustained on the job can subject you to high medical bills, not to mention lost wages and missed work time. If you have sustained an on-the-job injury because of working with power tools or heavy equipment, you may be able to pursue monetary recovery through workers’ compensation.
You may be eligible to recover workers’ compensation benefits, regardless of fault, if you sustained your injuries while on the job and while working within the scope of your employment. To schedule a free consultation and case evaluation with a Clearwater workers’ compensation lawyer, please call us or contact us online.
Dolman Law Group Accident Injury Lawyers, PA 800 North Belcher Road Clearwater, FL 33756 727-451-6900
