Machinery can pose a danger to workers on the job in Georgia, especially when moving parts are unguarded and left without protections. “Pinch point” is a term that is used to describe a particularly dangerous part of a machine, any section that could catch a person or a body part enough to cause injury.
Pinch points could catch people or parts of workers’ bodies between moving parts, between materials and the machine or between moving and stationary parts of the machine. Various types of machines have different pinch points that could cause severe injuries, including conveyor belts, construction equipment, rollers, robots, assembly equipment, plastic and metal molding and forming machines, power doors and other types of automated equipment.
Employers are responsible for providing a safe workplace for employees on the job. This means that employers must evaluate the machinery in the workplace in order to determine the threat of workplace injuries and accidents due to pinch points. This is important, as machine injuries can lead to severe, lifelong disabilities. Identifying the problem is only the first step, however; employers must act to protect workplace safety.
Where dangerous pinch points are found, an employer can install guards or other protective devices that ensure workers cannot reach under, over or around in order to be at risk from the pinch points. For maximum effectiveness, workers must also receive training so they are aware of the importance of the guards for workplace safety. The guards should only be removed for maintenance and repair by specially trained employees.
People who have been injured in the workplace due to machinery or other types of equipment may suffer serious consequences as a result and rack up substantial medical bills. A workers’ compensation attorney may be able to help injured workers to protect their rights and seek the compensation to which they are entitled after an on-the-job injury.
