Construction Site Accidents – Defective Machinery

Personal injury due to defective machinery covers a large segment of construction site injuries and can be subdivided into more specific categories which carry a high instance of injuries, such as: crane accidents, forklift accidents and general electrical accidents. Construction sites are full of heavy equipment, machinery and power tools, all of which are possible flashpoints to cause personal injury. Most injuries caused by defective machinery are superficial, however, improperly maintained machinery can cause seriously personal injury, such as crushed limbs, burns, blindness or amputation, as well as death in some instances.

Prevention of personal injuries arising from defective machinery on construction sites is one area that could easily be addressed. Employers need to implement and adhere to strict maintenance codes for machinery, as well as have trained or licensed workers work with sophisticated machinery, and enforce the wearing protective clothing where appropriate. Also, it is important for employers to install proper safeguards that can easily prevent superficial, as well as serious personal injuries, particularly with those machines that have moving parts or are used to undertake hazardous work.

Although construction sites use a range of machinery, the most common accidents occur with defective nail guns, mechanical power presses and power transmission equipment. Annually, there are tens of thousands of federal citations issued for contractors using defective or dangerous machinery on their construction sites. In fact, machinery violations rank among the top violations of worker safety on construction sites.

If you or a family member have suffered injury due to an onsite construction accident you may have the right to claim compensation from the company. This includes loss of earnings if you are sub-contracted. The cases will of course rest on your involvement and possible negligence, as all workers on site are expected to act with a reasonable amount of caution.

The terms of compensation are subject to interpretation by the company and their insurance agents. If you feel that their offer of compensation is unfair or unsatisfactory, then you may need to turn to legal help to initiate a claim against your employer or contractor. An attorney can help you bring a claim against the company responsible without jeopardizing your job.