When it comes to the equipment used at a work site, it is not only the mechanical components of the equipment that worker safety issues can come up in connection to. While these components can give rise to concerns about risks of physical accidents like struck-by injuries or cutting/crushing injuries, these are not the only sources of risk that can come from such equipment. Worker dangers could also come from the substances the machines can put into the air of a workplace.
Take machines that are powered by diesel, for instance. Such equipment is used in all kinds of industries. This includes the agriculture, construction, mining, manufacturing and maritime industries.
When used in the workplace, such equipment can give rise to concerns regarding worker exposure to diesel exhaust. Such exposure can have short-term and long-term consequences on worker health.
So, it can be important for employers that have workers use diesel equipment as part of their work to take measures to ensure their workers aren’t exposed to dangerous levels of diesel exhaust. This can include making sure workers aren’t around such exhaust for too long or in areas where such fumes would be at high concentrations. It can also include ensuring proper ventilation is present in connection to the use of such equipment.
When a person has been harmed by diesel equipment at work, whether the harms came about as a result of physical accidents involving the machine’s mechanisms or health problems resulting from diesel exhaust exposure, it can be important for them to have solid legal guidance when it comes to workers’ comp issues related to the harms suffered. Such guidance can help a worker with having a clear understanding of what their particular legal options are, which can be important when navigating workers’ comp matters.
Source:
Safety+Health, “The dangers of diesel exhaust,” Dec. 18, 2016
