While accidents can occur in a variety of different employment settings, some of the most dangerous involve industrial workplaces. This is due to the fact that the industrial sector, which focuses on the commercial production and sale of goods, often requires employees to work with heavy machinery or other dangerous materials. Those who work in these types of environments are more at risk of sustaining certain kinds of serious injuries, many of which can be permanently disabling. Collecting workers’ compensation benefits is critical in cases involving industrial accidents, so if you were injured at work, please call a member of our workers’ compensation legal team for a free case evaluation.
One of the most dangerous types of industrial accidents involves emergency spills. These types of accidents are defined by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) as spills that:
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), employees who work in the following industries are more at risk of sustaining industrial spill-related injuries:
In fact, between 1999 and 2008, employees who worked in these industries made up more than 30 percent of workplace accidents. Respiratory irritation, burns, gastrointestinal problems, and trauma were among the most commonly reported spill-related injuries.
Many industrial accidents also involve heavy machinery. Factory workers, for example, are at risk of becoming caught in or caught between the machinery used in production lines. In fact, some of the most common injuries occur when employees’ limbs or bodies become pinned or crushed between machinery and a stationary object. The resulting injuries tend to be particularly severe and include:
Employees who are injured in these types of accidents are often forced to undergo amputations, multiple surgeries, and physical therapy.
Workplace explosions are another high risk for many employees who work at industrial sites. For example, sparks and molten material can travel more than 35 feet, which puts welders and other employees who regularly work with hot materials in constant danger of being burned. Explosions are also more likely to occur in food manufacturing businesses and chemical manufacturing plants, where even a small fire caused by a combustible material coming into contact with an ignition source can cause a primary explosion, which in turn can cause surrounding dust to become airborne. In many cases, the dust cloud itself then ignites, causing a secondary, and much more dangerous explosion, which could result in severe burns and in some tragic cases, death.
Industrial accidents are notorious for resulting in catastrophic injuries. To ensure that you receive compensation for your own work-related injury, please call Lafferty, Gallagher & Scott, LLC to speak with one of our dedicated attorneys about your case today.
All of our partners are AV Peer Review Rated* through Martindale-Hubbell. Out-of-state referrals are welcome for all
areas of practice we handle, including personal injury, workers’ compensation and insurance claims issues.