Heavy Machinery, Amputations and Industrial Accidents

Abstract

The article presents a description of heavy machineries, amputations and industrial accidents; an important component of occupational health. Occupational Health is the promotion and maintenance of the highest degree of physical, mental and social well-being of workers in all occupations by preventing departures from health, controlling risks and the adaptation of work to people, and people to their jobs(WHO).

The Bureau of Labor Statistics reported a total of 4,836 work injuries in the United States in 2015, a slight increase from 4,821 fatal injuries reported in 2014. Since work-related injuries are not on the decline and work related hazards are a potential source of litigation, huge compensation, economic loss, and loss of quality of life it is important to explore the subject of industrial injuries and its attendant complications and how it can be prevented in an attempt to mitigate the potential cost on industrial workers, their families, employers, the production process and consequently the Gross Domestic Product of a nation.

The article attempts to describe etiologic and causative factors involved with the burden of heavy machinery and industrial injuries of which amputation is notable. A brief review of the agents of injury, mechanisms of injury, health and economic impact and the transmission pathway is included. A review of the literature would bring to the fore research materials that discussed the subject matter under review identifying pros and cons of various approaches. The article analyzes the available statistical measures provided by researches under review, revealing their shortcomings and highlighting their merits. The paper highlights potential future developments as relates to prevention and control of workplace injuries and their attendant complications. Additionally, certain recommendations will be made based on scientifically valid opinion.

Keywords: Industrial injuries, Amputations, Machinery, Occupational safety