People that work in manufacturing plants in Minnesota are at a greater risk of injuring themselves. Their work is often very physical, involving operating and moving a lot of equipment, vehicles, and heavy machinery. These elements are a hotbed for accidents. If you are working at a factory, here are the common causes of injuries you should look out for and what you can do if the unfortunate happens.
Common causes of manufacturing accidents
1. Work-related causes
These are the leading and most dangerous causes of accidents in a manufacturing plant. You can get injured when:
• A machine breaks down
• There are inadequate or improper safety guards on a dangerous equipment
• There is no proper maintenance on a device
• The arrangement or procedure of operating machinery is hazardous
• There is poor lighting, ventilation, housekeeping, etc.
2. Unsafe Acts
Accidents can arise when you have insufficient skills on how to conduct yourself in your environment or operate a machine. Sometimes, it can occur due to the negligence of an employee. For example, operating a machine at unsafe levels of speed, failing to put on the correct attire, or ignoring the warnings on a piece of equipment, etc.
3. Other cause
Other causes of accidents include working during the night shift, boredom, addiction to alcohol, and level of experience. Some studies also show that women are likely to be more careful at a factory than their male counterparts; others also show that unmarried workers tend to get more injuries than married ones.
What to do in case of an injury
If you get injured at work in Minnesota, you are eligible to receive workers’ compensation. The law makes it mandatory for all employers to purchase workers’ compensation insurance or become self-insured. In addition, the state uses a no-fault system when awarding these benefits.
You do not need to prove negligence, and your employer cannot use negligence to diminish or deny your claim to benefits. As long as you are hurt at work, you deserve compensation that covers your medical bills, lost wages, and permanent impairments.
It would be best if you practiced precautionary measures to reduce your chances of getting workplace injuries as much as possible. Even though you have the right to compensation, some injuries can negatively impact your life.
