What is the Most Common Injury Caused by Unsafe Machinery?

What is the Most Common Injury Caused by Unsafe Machinery?

What is the most common injury caused by working with machines unsafely? The most common injury caused by unsafe machinery is cuts or lacerations. Workers operating a faulty machine are at higher risk of accidents that can cause severe cuts to different body parts.

When an unsafe machine causes an injury, you might qualify for compensation. However, determining where to get compensation or if someone is at fault is difficult. Consider consulting a Kansas workplace injury attorney if you seek compensation after a workplace injury.

What Counts as Unsafe Machinery?

Unsafe machinery is any mechanical or electric work equipment that risks a worker’s health or life. Several factors may make a machinery unsafe, including:

• Improper Maintenance: Most machine injuries happen due to improper machine maintenance by the employer. According to OSHA’s guidelines, poor maintenance that makes machinery unsafe include:
• Ignoring the manufacturer’s recommendation
• Failure to replace worn parts
• Lack of regular inspection
• Inadequate lubrication
• Improper storage
• Manufacturing Defect: A machine can be unsafe because of manufacturing defects. The defect can occur during the creation, production, or assembly process. A claim against manufacturing defects can be brought against the assemblers, the manufacturer, or the seller.
• Design Defect: A machinery has a design defect if its blueprint (rather than the manufacturing process) is faulty. Unlike manufacturing defects, liability for design defects is usually brought against the manufacturer for designing machinery with issues. 

When is Your Employer Liable For Injuries From Unsafe Machinery

Your Kansas work injury attorney typically cannot sue your employer for damages. Instead, they can seek workers’ compensation benefits to cover medical expenses and partial wage replacement. You do not have to prove fault or negligence for workers’ compensation claims. 

When is The Machine Manufacturer Liable for Unsafe Machine Injuries

If the machine is faulty because of a manufacturing or design defect, it might be beneficial to file a lawsuit against the manufacturer.

In many cases, it’s possible to bring a product liability claim against a manufacturer if they:

• Installed the machine incorrectly
• Gave poor operation instructions
• Built a machine with defective parts
• Designed machinery with safety flaws

What Are Your Employer’s Responsibilities Regarding Safe Use of Machinery?

Kansas authorities impose regulations on employers to ensure workers’ safety when using machines. Your employer is responsible for:

• Maintaining and inspecting work equipment
• Ensuring the equipment has the required safety features 
• Providing the right type of work machine suitable and safe for the job
• Offering suitable protective equipment for employees using work equipment
• Providing proper training and information to any employee using machinery at work
• Carrying out regular risk assessments and identifying any risks a work equipment poses to employees

Injuries resulting from neglecting these responsibilities might qualify an injured worker for a claim from the employer’s workers’ insurance.

Injured With A Machinery At Work? We Can Help

Faulty machine injuries can take a toll on workers and their families. The injury is usually life-long, requiring constant medical care or job changes.

Consider consulting an attorney from Pyle Law who can help you manage every aspect of your case as you seek the compensation you deserve. Please contact us online to walk you through every step of the way.