Texas workers could find various parts of their body at risk from exposure to machinery in the workplace. The term “pinch point” is used to define any part of a machine that could catch a person or a part of their body between moving parts, between moving and stationary parts or between materials and the machine itself. There can be a number of different pinch points that workers encounter when dealing with machinery on the job, including robotic machines, conveyor belts, power presses, metal forming and construction machines, rollers, assembly devices, power doors and hatches, plastic molding mechanisms, printing presses and power transmission equipment.
Employers have a responsibility to evaluate the machinery in use in the workplace and identify potential hazards where they appear in order to prevent employees from experiencing workplace injuries as a result of pinch points. Identification of the danger is only the first step, however; the employer should use protective devices or eliminate the potential that workers could face an injury in those locations. For example, guards can be installed to prevent workers from reaching into, under or around the dangerous area of the machine.
In order for protective mechanisms to serve their purpose, proper training must be provided to employees about the reasons such guards are in place and how they serve to protect safety. Workers should also be informed that they must not modify or remove the guards and that only trained personnel should handle machine guards in order to perform necessary repair work.
Many workers face dangers on the job on a daily basis, and far too many employers fail to follow guidelines that protect workplace safety. Injured workers may wish to contact a lawyer to protect their rights after a workplace injury and help to ensure that they receive the compensation they deserve.