A Houston man died last month while working at a chemical plant in southeast Harris County, according to the Houston Chronicle. The accident happened when he was pinned against the wall by an earthmover. He died at the scene, providing a sobering lesson in heavy-equipment safety.
The man’s identity has not been released, and the Harris County Sheriff’s Department says OSHA will conduct an investigation into the accident, as is common in such workplace accidents.
According to Workforce Safety, there are numerous safety measures that should be in place any time earthmoving equipment is used. This applies to scrapers, loaders, crawlers, bulldozers, graders, and more. They suggest:
- Seat belts should be provided and used when operating the equipment.
- Pneumatic-tired earthmoving haulage equipment whose maximum speed exceeds 15 mph should be equipped with fenders on all wheels.
- All of the above vehicles must be equipped with rollover protective structures.
- All of the above vehicles should be equipped with a horn, to be operated as needed when the vehicle is moving in either direction. The horn should be maintained in an operative condition. Earthmoving equipment which has an obstructed view to the rear and is to be used in reverse gear, should have in operation a reverse signal alarm distinguishable from the surrounding noise level or have an employee signal that it is safe to back up.
While the details of this particular accident aren’t clear, heavy equipment like this can cause a pinning accident when the operator isn’t aware of someone’s presence around the machine. If they don’t know you are nearby, the chances of their hitting, pinning, and seriously injuring you are extremely great.
A horn can signal that the machine is about to move, but if you can’t hear the horn or are prevented from moving, the horn won’t save your life.
Working in industrial plants can be extremely dangerous. You are subject to all kinds of safety rules and regulations in order to prevent these sorts of accidents. But, accidents still happen.
When you are hurt on the job like this, you need someone working on your behalf to get justice for your injuries.
Houston Serious Workplace Accident Attorney
Having represented many Houston-area residents after a tragic accident, I know how hard it can be to suffer serious injuries due to the fault of another. If you are looking for a Houston personal injury attorney, someone who can help you seek compensation for your injuries—I may be able to help.
Contact my offices today to discuss your case and the legal options available to you. We can be reached at 281-677-3959.
