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Conveyor belts are a key element of many industrial sites. They have many benefits, such as increasing the risk of production at many plants. However, with any benefit comes inherent risks.
Conveyor belts pose a significant risk to workers’ safety, particularly when they are designed or manufactured defectively. Learn what may make a conveyor belt defective and what you can do if you have been injured by such a defect.
Machinery with Moving Parts
Any heavy machinery with moving parts is dangerous because it increases the risk of crushing injuries or a “caught in/between” injury -- one of the “fatal four” injuries named by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). As such, it’s vital that any machinery with moving parts be made safely.
Unfortunately, this doesn’t always happen. Some common defects associated with conveyor belts include:
- Mistracking: This occurs when there is a misalignment between the belt and its track. This can cause the belt to shift from one side to the other, which can cause difficulty in predicting the belt’s movements and potential injury to a worker.
- Seized rollers: Sometimes, the rollers on a conveyor belt are produced defectively and can eventually develop sharp edges, which pose a significant risk to anyone working on the belt.
Sometimes, a conveyor belt accident is not always due to an inherent defect. Employers must take certain measures to ensure a conveyor belt’s safety, such as by installing safety guards. When they fail to do so, they may be held liable for any injuries that result.
Injured in a Conveyor Belt Accident? Contact Us Today
If you have been injured in a conveyor belt accident or another incident at work, our Los Angeles attorneys can protect your rights. We have the experience and resources needed to take on large manufacturing companies and their insurers, and we’re here to help you through this.
Call Shoop | A Professional Law Corporation at (866) 884-1717 to schedule a free consultation.