Posted on Friday, February 8th, 2019 at 2:48 am
You can find heavy machinery on almost every construction site. The size and number of machines required to complete construction vary, but they all have one thing in common. Unfortunately, heavy equipment can cause traumatic injuries and deaths in construction site accidents. Therefore, it is vital that employers, contractors, and employees understand the risks and dangers associated with heavy machinery and how to prevent construction site accidents.
Why Do Heavy Equipment Accidents Happen?
Construction site accidents involving heavy equipment are far too common. Some of the reasons heavy equipment accidents occur include:
- Lack of training
- Inexperience
- Horseplay
- Distractions
- Defective machines or parts
- Lack of safety procedures
- Using the machine for a purpose other than its intended purpose
- Lack of safety gear
- Failure to communicate
Backhoes, excavators, cranes, tractors, trucks, loaders, drills, and compactors are just a small sample of the types of heavy machinery you might see on a construction site.
A worker or visitor injured in a heavy equipment accident may be entitled to compensation from one or more parties. We encourage you to contact our Sacramento construction site accident attorneys for a free case review to discuss the steps you need to take to recover compensation for your injuries.
You may receive additional compensation by pursuing more than one cause of action. A Sacramento construction site attorney can help you determine all your options for recovering compensation for your injuries.
Ways to Prevent Heavy Equipment Accidents on Construction Sites
Some accidents are not preventable. However, you can take steps to reduce heavy equipment accidents at work. Some of the steps that can help prevent construction site accidents include:
- Always wear safety gear, such as steel-toed boots, goggles, harnesses, safety vests, masks, ear plugs, and heavy-duty work gloves.
- Wearing reflective clothing can also help reduce the risk of a heavy equipment accident. Highly-visible clothing helps operators see workers to avoid accidents.
- Schedule regular safety meetings to discuss safety plans and guidelines. Employers can also review prior accidents and how to avoid repeating those accidents.
- Avoid night work. Working late at night can increase the chance of an accident because of fatigue and lack of sufficient lighting.
- Take frequent breaks when you operate heavy equipment. Being tired and fatigued reduces your judgment and reaction time, which could lead to an accident.
- Perform regular maintenance and inspections. Heavy equipment requires a great deal of maintenance. Make sure that your company has a policy in place to inspect and maintain equipment. The policy should also instruct employees to stop a machine immediately and report the problem if the machine begins operating inconsistently or erratically.
- Always use heavy equipment to perform the job it is intended to perform. Using equipment to perform other jobs can be dangerous
Call a Sacramento Construction Site Accident Attorney
Heavy equipment injuries are serious. You may be entitled to workers’ comp benefits and third-party compensation. Don’t wait to contact an attorney. Statutes of limitations restrict the time to file claims.
For a free consultation with a Sacramento construction site attorney, contact The Tiemann Law Firm by calling (916) 999-9000 or by visiting our website.
