Machine Hazards in the Workplace

If you are a machine operator and have sustained an illness or injury in the court of your work, you may be able to file a workers’ compensation claim. You may have many questions for one of the knowledgeable Delaware workers’ compensation attorneys on the legal team at Silverman McDonald & Friedman. We do all that we can to help to make sure that your right to collect workers’ compensation is protected. Please call us today to schedule a free consultation in our Seaford, Wilmington or Newark office location.

Employees have a right to a safe and healthy work environment. Employees also have the right to speak up when unsafe conditions exist that pose a threat to the health and safety of themselves and their fellow workers. Workers who use machines and equipment to perform their work duties can become injured when the machines malfunction, or when they do not have safeguards to protect workers from serious injury and death.

Secretary of Labor Thomas E. Perez said, “No one should have to sacrifice their life for their livelihood, because a nation built on the dignity of work must provide safe working conditions for its people.”

The Occupational Health & Safety Administration (OSHA), which is part of the United States Department of Labor, has established safety rules that employers must follow in order to maintain a safe working environment for their employees. OSHA does periodic inspections of workplaces. When there has been a serious injury or a death in a workplace, OSHA inspectors routinely come and investigates the cause of the injury or death. They may levy fines against employers who are in violation of OSHA regulations especially if those violations contributed to the cause of the accident.

Common injuries from machine hazards

Some of the serious injuries that can occur from machine hazards include:

• Crush injuries
• Amputations
• Eye loss
• Hand and arm injuries
• Burns
• Lacerations

Causes of workplace machine hazards

A worker might suffer a serious injury due to a machine that has a design defect. An injury might also be caused by a sudden malfunction of a machine that had been working properly. Employees who use dangerous equipment need to be trained and supervised and the machines themselves must contain safety warnings.

If it can be proven that a machine hazard was caused by a design defect in the machine or a manufacturing defect, the machine’s manufacturer may be held liable for the injuries that happen when the machine malfunctions. If an employee sustains a serious injury that requires hospitalization and surgery, they may want to contact an experienced workers’ compensation attorney to help manage the claim while they focus on recovering from their injuries.

When you need legal assistance in navigating the complex process of filing a workers’ compensation claim for an occupational illness or injury, you could benefit from the support of an experienced Delaware workers’ compensation attorney on your side. At the law firm of Silverman, McDonald & Friedman, we offer legal guidance and support when you are dealing with an occupational illness. You are welcome to call us at 302-888-2900 or fill out our quick contact form to schedule a case review with a workers’ compensation lawyer in Newark, Seaford or Wilmington today.