In industrial settings such as warehouses or manufacturing centers, employees may need to operate certain machines. These machines can be inherently dangerous and may lead to life-altering injuries if something goes wrong.
Ideally, specific safeguards are in place to help prevent accidents and injuries. One such safeguard is the use of two-hand controls. This means a machine cannot be activated by pressing a single button. Instead, the worker must press two buttons at the same time to activate the machine. How does this help keep workers safe?
Keeping their hands out of harm’s way
The primary goal of these systems is to ensure that a worker’s hands are on the controls when the machine activates, rather than elsewhere during the operation.
A hydraulic press is a good example. A worker may need to place material on the press surface and then activate it so the press can form the material into a specific shape during the manufacturing process.
If there were only one button to control the press, there is a risk that a worker might leave one hand on the material. This could happen while trying to stabilize it or simply out of habit after operating the machine thousands of times over the course of a career.
If the worker does not move their hand in time, they could suffer a severe crush injury that results in the loss of a hand. This type of permanent disability can occur in a split second. By using two-button controls, the worker’s hands are kept off the operating surface when the press is activated.
Seeking workers’ comp benefits
This demonstrates how workplace accidents can occur and why safety systems are so important. Even when proper machinery and safeguards are in place, there is always some risk of injury. Workers who are hurt on the job need to understand how to seek appropriate workers’ comp benefits.
