The posture required to operate a pneumatic drill is very risky and the operator can get hurt easily.
A pneumatic drill is a very heavy tool used for breaking tough materials such as concrete or tarmac. The posture required to operate it is very risky and the operator can get hurt easily. Therefore, it is essential to train the worker before asking him to handle a pneumatic drill. Unfortunately, training is often neglected, and many workers suffer injuries when working with pneumatic drills. In this post, we will talk about the injuries that can result from a pneumatic drill accident.
What is a Pneumatic Drill?
A pneumatic drill, or a jackhammer, uses compressed air to drill. It generally works with a diesel engine. First, air is drawn into an inlet valve, then a piston compresses it and pushes it in a tank. There the air is pressurized. This air acts as the energy source to operate the tool.
Risks Involved In Using A Pneumatic Drill
- The pneumatic drill is extremely noisy. The loud sound can have a damaging impact of the hearing ability of the worker and the people around. It may lead to permanent loss of hearing. So it is essential to wear ear protection gear.
- While breaking up the tarmac or concrete the dust and debris may fly out and enter the eyes, hit on the face, damage the person’s lungs and aggravate asthma.
- The worker may accidentally drill into his foot. So, it is advisable to wear boots with steel toecaps.
- If a worker operates the pneumatic drill for a long period, he may sustain injuries due to repetitive strain, get a vibration white finger, or be afflicted by the hand arm vibration syndrome. Therefore, a worker should wear gloves.
Precautions
- The worker should be given proper training before he starts operating the pneumatic drill.
- Suitable protective gear should be provided to the worker.
- The drill operator must be allowed to take breaks, change tasks, or share the drilling work with others.
- The workers should be acquainted with the injuries that may occur due to the frequent use of the pneumatic drill. They should be able to identify the symptoms like numbness, pains and aches, tenderness, cracking in the joints, and tingling, and seek medical help. As they may lead to a permanent disability if neglected.
Getting workers compensation
The purpose of workers’ compensation is to provide benefits to a worker who is injured while performing his duties in the workplace. It typically covers the worker’s medical bills and the loss of income.
However, getting compensation may not be an easy task. Several objections may be raised by the insurers of the company.
First, it may be argued that the injury occurred due to some pre-existing condition, and is not related to the job. For instance, if a worker develops vibration white finger while operating the pneumatic drill in one job and is afflicted by the same problem when he takes up another job, the insurer may use it as a reason to deny your claim.
Second, the employer may argue that some other event or hobby pursued by the person is the real cause of injury.