One of the most common pieces of machinery that I see on Mississippi work sites is the skid steer, or, its brand name, the Bobcat. These small, practical pieces of machinery are ubiquitous on work sites because they can perform a wide variety of tasks and, unlike larger machines, are relatively easy to learn to use. But I say “relatively” because these machines are capable of tremendous damage, and I see clients who come in with skid steer injuries caused by rookie operators. Because skid steer injuries are so common, I have written the following blog post to detail what you should do if you or a loved one is injured in a skid steer accident while on the job.
If a skid steer injured you or a loved one while at work, one thing is critical to know—you will need to have experienced worker’s compensation counsel help you attain your fair share of compensation for your loss of income and injury. Barrett Law has the experience to help you if you have been injured. Contact us now at (800) 707-9577.
Skid Steer Safety Basics
Skids steers are lightweight, agile, and capable of lifting large loads; but those attributes become liabilities in the hands of an inexperienced operator. The most common skid steer accidents involve other workers being entrapped within the skid steer’s mechanisms, run over, or being caught under tipped skid steers. That is often because a novice operator is overly focused on loading or dumping the machine and is not sufficiently focused on his or her surroundings. The following are basic rules for working with and around skid steers:
Never Use a Skid Steer to Transport People—while it may sound fun or easy to take a quick ride across a job site in a skid steer’s bucket, this is incredibly dangerous. Skid steers can rock violently, throwing or crushing bucket passengers.
Never Leave a Skid Steer Running—it can be inconvenient to go through the startup process every time you get in or out of a skid steer. However, many injuries stem from people climbing in or out of running machines and accidentally engaging its lifting arms or treads. If either happens, a person standing on the treads can be crushed by their movement or by a lifting arm that traps a finger or arm in between two pieces of metal.
Keep Clear of Skid Steers While They Are Operating—unlike a car, skid steers do not have rearview mirrors and have large blind spots. Give operators a wide birth. Similarly, avoid working on slopes in skid steers and avoid them when they are working on an incline. While skid steers are agile climbers when they are climbing up a hill, they are prone to tipping if their treads are parallel or close to parallel with a slope.
What Should You Do If You or a Loved One Has Been Injured on the Job by a Skid Steer?
If you or a loved one was injured on a worksite by a skid steer, you will need experienced personal injury counsel to help you through the Mississippi worker’s compensation process. Once a claim is filed, let experienced counsel take care of preserving medical records, attaining expert diagnoses, and dealing with the worker’s compensation board. These are essential tasks that a personal injury attorney can handle for you while you heal and work to get back to work.
Call Barrett Law now, an experienced Mississippi worker’s compensation law firm, to represent you if you have suffered an injury on the job. Contact us now at (800) 707-9577.