Dangers Associated with Scissor Lifts on Construction Sites
Working in the construction industry is often financially rewarding and emotionally fulfilling. However, people who spend their days in this field face significant risks of construction accidents from a variety of sources. In this article, we’re going to discuss just one of these sources: scissor lift accidents.
What is a Scissor Lift?
A scissor lift is one kind of mobile elevated work platform commonly used on construction sites and other industrial job environments. It’s used to access areas that are located high off the ground, exposing the workers using them to injuries from falls and other physical mishaps. This makes scissor lift fall protection an absolute must for construction employees everywhere.
Common Causes of Scissor Lift Accidents
There are several different ways that scissor lifts can bring a person into contact with dangerous conditions. Here are just a handful:
- Tip-overs: Because scissor lifts – when fully extended – are extremely tall with relatively narrow bases, even small shifts in the weight they bear or their center of gravity can cause them to tip over. This makes it all the more important for workers and supervisors to ensure scissor lifts are properly secured to the ground, are set up on a level base, and that the lifts themselves are not overloaded.
- Falls: Even when the lifts themselves are secured properly, workers frequently fall from their elevated platforms. Most, if not all, states have workplace health and safety laws and regulations in place that prescribe adequate scissor lift fall protection requirements in an attempt to prevent scissor lift accidents.
- Trap injuries: Because scissor lifts are often in motion, workers can become trapped between a moving platform and a stationary part of their environment, like a ceiling or warehouse shelf. In fact, pinch and crush injuries are some of the most common scissor lift accidents in New Jersey.
What to Do if You are Injured in a Scissor Lift Accident in New Jersey?
If you’re one of the unfortunate folks to become involved in a scissor lift accident at work, you should reach out to an experienced and effective personal injury attorney immediately. Getting a New Jersey personal injury lawyer involved at the outset can ensure you receive the compensation you’re entitled to and that will help you get back on your feet with a minimum of pain and suffering to you and your family.
Mazie Slater Construction Accident Lawyers are Here for You
Scissor lift accident statistics suggest that this type of preventable and unfortunate injury is on the rise in New Jersey. If you or someone you love has suffered one, don’t hesitate to contact Mazie Slater today. We offer free consultations to anyone wondering about how to proceed in the wake of a significant scissor lift accident, and we only charge our clients fees in the event that we recover damages for their injuries.