An 80-year-old man was seriously injured at a Houston lumber yard last week. According to ABC 13, the man was operating a tractor at the time of the accident, when a log rolled onto it and pinned him inside.
It seems as if the man was working at the lumber yard, though it isn’t clear from news reports.
The victim’s son told reporters that as his father was unloading a log from a trailer, the log rolled back onto the cab of the tractor and pinned his leg against the steering wheel. Muddy conditions were believed to play a role in the accident.
Rescue workers were able to remove the man from the tractor and he was transported to an area hospital. His injuries were said to be of a “serious” nature.
Any time you work with large equipment, you are at risk of a serious accident. Whether you work unloading trucks with a forklift or stocking shelves using a hand truck or ladder, the risk is always present.
Your employer is required to follow certain rules in order to keep you as safe as possible. Violation of these rules can result in hefty fines, not to mention serious repercussions a worker is injured.
Sure, you have a responsibility to be the safest employee you can be. You can’t be careless or skip over safety regulations yourself. But your employer must provide the tools and the environment for you to complete your job in the safest manner possible.
Many people see the risks on their job. Following an accident, you’ll hear them say, “I knew it was only a matter of time before someone was hurt.” In other words, many of these accidents are preventable.
As a responsible and safe worker, you have to alert your employer to unsafe working conditions. You owe it to yourself. And if they fail to fix the potential risks, you do have rights to escalate the situation, alerting OSHA for example.
Your safety should be important to your employer. But when an accident happens and the results have you out of work, you may find yourself completely alone.
Workplace injuries, like those serious injuries that occur in the construction and manufacturing fields, can change your life forever.
Houston Personal Injury Lawyer
As a workplace accident attorney, Kevin Krist helps people who are seriously injured while on the job. From broken bones to traumatic brain injuries—Kevin Krist may be able to help. Call 281-677-3959 today for a free consultation on your case.
