One of the most dangerous jobs performed by workers in any industry are machine workers in a factory setting. These jobs carry with them major risks and if performed incorrectly may lead to serious work related injuries and a Connecticut workers’ compensation claim.
Being a machine operator requires being vigilant at all times because one false move could lead to dangerous complications up to and including a workplace amputation. If a worker is operating a machine and fails to pay attention for even a split second it can mean the difference between a lifelong injury and getting back to work the next day.
As a machine operator what can you do to make sure you are avoiding an injury that could leave you out of work for a long period of time?
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Stay alert. This is one of the hardest things to do when your job requires a repetitive process that can often become second nature to you. Relying on muscle memory to do a job that presents such a risk can be dangerous and you should always make sure that your muscles are doing the work, but your brain is performing the safety checks.
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Always power down the equipment. Many injuries with machine operators occur in the general maintenance of the equipment. Often individuals will start to work on a machine and forget to remove the equipment from a power source. This can be dangerous because it allows the machine to function when the operator is not expecting it to.
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Only remove safety guards when it is absolutely necessary to do so. In the course of doing your day to day job you should have no reason to remove safety guards from the machine, but this may be required when doing maintenance on the equipment. If it is absolutely necessary to remove the safety guards, refer to bullet #2 and make sure the equipment is entirely removed from a power source before you perform any action with the safety guards off.
Being a machine operator is one of the most dangerous jobs in the United States. While it is dangerous and can often lead to a Connecticut workers’ compensation claim, it is extremely necessary for the manufacturing industry to have these folks in these roles. It is therefore incumbent on the company and the employee to make sure she/he is properly trained and executing that training on a daily basis.
If you do find yourself in a situation where you’ve been injured on the job you may want to speak with a board certified workers’ compensation attorney. Contact our office and speak with one of our experienced attorneys who can review your claim and help guide you through the filing process.
