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Moving Machinery Accidents: Make a Claim
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Moving machinery plays a crucial role in various industries. However, the operation of moving equipment comes with serious risks. Accidents involving machinery can result in severe injuries or fatalities, posing a significant threat to worker safety.
These incidents often occur due to factors such as inadequate training, equipment malfunctions, failure to implement machinery safety measures, or human error. Navigating the aftermath of a moving machinery accident can be overwhelming, particularly for injured workers seeking compensation for their losses.
If you have been injured in a moving machinery accident, you could be entitled to compensation. At Beacon Law, our team of personal injury solicitors can help you understand your legal rights and options when pursuing a moving machinery accident claim.
Common types of moving machinery accidents
Moving machinery accidents can occur in various forms depending on the type of equipment and workplace conditions. Some of the most common types of dangerous moving machinery accidents include:
Entanglement
Workers may become entangled in machinery parts such as rotating shafts, belts, or chains. Loose clothing, hair, or jewellery can worsen the risk of entrapment. Employers should prevent access to dangerous parts in the workplace such as these.
Crushing accidents
These occur when a worker is caught between moving parts of machinery or between a machine and a fixed object. Heavy equipment such as forklifts, cranes, and presses often poses crushing hazards.
Impact injuries
Machinery that moves at high speeds or involves swinging components, such as arms or blades, can cause blunt force injuries if workers are struck by moving parts.
Shearing accidents
Shearing occurs when machinery parts move against each other or a fixed surface, potentially leading to serious injuries, such as severed fingers or limbs. Examples include power shears and cutting equipment.
Entanglement in conveyors
Conveyor belts are common in manufacturing. Workers can be pulled into the machinery if they come into contact with unguarded or poorly maintained systems.
Caught-in or Caught-between accidents
Workers can be caught in machinery while performing maintenance or repairs. These accidents often happen due to a lack of lockout/tagout procedures or when safeguards are removed.
Run-over accidents
Forklifts, bulldozers, and agricultural equipment, can cause accidents when workers are struck or run over by moving vehicles in industrial or construction sites.
Falling into machinery
Workers may fall into large machinery, such as mixers or grinders, often due to inadequate barriers, slippery surfaces, or poor positioning.
Ejection of material
Operating machinery at high speeds can eject debris or broken components, leading to injuries if proper protective equipment and guards are not used.
What are your employer’s responsibilities?
Employers have a legal duty to create a safe system of work, especially in industries where moving machinery is used. This duty is governed by health and safety regulations, such as the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974.
One of the most important responsibilities employers have is providing adequate training. Workers operating moving machinery must receive comprehensive instruction on safe operation techniques, emergency procedures, and hazard recognition. Employers are also responsible for ensuring that workers attend refresher courses to stay updated on best practices.
In addition to training, employers must carry out risk assessments. They need to evaluate potential hazards in the workplace and implement measures to mitigate risks.
Ensuring that equipment is properly maintained is another critical responsibility. Employers must schedule routine maintenance and repairs to keep machinery in safe working order.
Employers are also required to provide workers with personal protective equipment (PPE). Depending on the risks present, this could include hard hats, high-visibility clothing, steel-toe boots, gloves, and hearing protection. The PPE must fit properly and allow workers to perform their tasks safely without unnecessary discomfort.
When accidents occur, employers must report them to the appropriate regulatory bodies, such as the Health and Safety Executive (HSE). They are also responsible for conducting thorough investigations to determine the root cause of the incident and implement corrective actions. This may involve updating procedures or providing additional training to workers.
Employers must adhere to regulations like the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998 (PUWER) and may also adopt risk management systems such as ISO 45001 to enhance occupational health and safety.
What should you do if you have been involved in a moving machinery accident?
If you have been involved in a moving machinery accident, there are a few things you should do. If you are injured, seek medical attention immediately. Even if you don’t feel injured, it’s important to get checked out by a doctor. Some injuries, such as internal bleeding, may not be immediately apparent.
Exchange information with the other people involved in the accident. This includes their name, address, and phone numbers. Take pictures of the accident scene. This includes any injuries you sustained.
If you would like to make a personal injury claim for compensation, contact Beacon Law to speak to one of our specialist personal injury solicitors about making a claim on a no win no fee basis. Details on the compensation claims process can also be found on our website.
What are the time limits for moving machinery accidents?
Before starting the claim process, it is important to note that there are strict time limits on personal injury claims. From the date of the accident that caused the injuries sustained, the injured party will have 3 years to commence proceedings for claiming compensation.
It must be noted, however, that there are some exceptions to this rule:
For instance, if the claimant was under 18 at the time of the incident, they have until their 21st birthday to file a compensation claim. If the claimant is still under 18, a litigation friend (such as a parent, guardian, or close family member) can pursue the claim on their behalf.
Another exception to the three-year time limit applies when the claimant lacks the mental capacity to start an accident claim. In such cases, the three-year limit does not apply. The claimant can initiate their claim at any point once they regain the mental capacity to proceed.
Why choose Beacon Law?
Beacon Law is a law firm of specialist personal injury solicitors. We have helped many of our clients obtain the compensation they deserve for their injuries sustained as a result of accidents at work and workplace injury. We also assist with claims such as forklift accidents, slips, trips and falls, and defective equipment.
You can request an initial consultation from our personal injury lawyers by completing the online help form, and an experienced member of our team will contact you to discuss your case. Alternatively, you can call us on 0330 1332 857, and we will be happy to assist you with your query.
Beacon Law are authorised and regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority. To find out about our no win, no fee basis, have a look at the funding section on our website.
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Last Updated on December 9, 2024 by Stacey