Power tools, industrial machinery, and workplace equipment cause thousands of serious injuries annually. When these injuries result from product defects rather than user error, injured workers and consumers can pursue product liability claims against manufacturers—often in addition to workers' compensation benefits.
Common Tool and Machinery Defects
Inadequate guarding fails to protect users from moving parts, blades, and pinch points. OSHA and industry standards require guarding of hazardous machine components—manufacturers who design unguarded or inadequately guarded equipment may be liable for resulting injuries.
Safety interlock failures allow machines to operate when guards are removed or access doors are open. Interlocks should prevent operation under unsafe conditions; when they fail, catastrophic injuries can result.
Kickback on saws occurs when spinning blades bind and throw material or the tool back at the user. Anti-kickback features should prevent or minimize this hazard; defective or missing anti-kickback protection can cause severe lacerations and amputations.
Electrical defects cause electrocution when tools lack proper grounding, have damaged insulation, or expose users to live components.
Structural failures occur when tools or machines break during use due to inadequate design or manufacturing errors—ladder collapses, jack failures, and scaffold breakdowns can cause devastating injuries.
Power Tool Injuries
Table saws cause tens of thousands of amputations annually. Safer designs exist—including SawStop technology that stops blades on contact with skin—but many manufacturers continue selling less safe designs. Failure to incorporate available safety technology can constitute a design defect.
Nail guns can fire unexpectedly, penetrate safety guards, or lack adequate sequential triggers that prevent accidental discharge. Nail gun injuries frequently involve serious puncture wounds.
Grinders and cutting tools with defective guards, inadequate disc retention, or excessive vibration cause lacerations, amputations, and repetitive stress injuries.
Drills and impact drivers with defective clutches or speed controls can cause wrist injuries, broken fingers, and struck-by injuries from spinning materials.
Industrial Machinery Claims
Industrial machinery injuries are often catastrophic—amputations, crush injuries, and deaths occur when heavy equipment fails. Manufacturers must design machines that protect operators and maintenance personnel from foreseeable hazards.
Presses and stamping machines require effective presence-sensing devices and barriers. Inadequate safeguards allow hands to enter danger zones, causing amputations and crush injuries.
Conveyors with inadequate guarding of pinch points, nip points, and in-running rolls cause severe injuries. Emergency stops must be accessible and effective.
Forklifts and material handling equipment with stability problems, visibility issues, or inadequate operator protection cause tip-over deaths and struck-by injuries.
Relationship to Workers' Compensation
Workers injured on the job typically receive workers' compensation benefits regardless of fault. However, product liability claims against equipment manufacturers are separate from workers' comp and can provide additional compensation.
Workers' comp limits recovery to medical expenses and partial wage replacement—no pain and suffering. Product liability claims allow full compensation including pain and suffering, full lost wages, and potentially punitive damages.
Workers' comp exclusivity doesn't protect third-party manufacturers. You can collect workers' comp from your employer while also suing the equipment manufacturer for full damages.
Employer Modifications
Sometimes employers modify equipment, remove guards, or disable safety features. This complicates but doesn't necessarily eliminate manufacturer liability. If modifications were foreseeable, the manufacturer may still be liable for failing to design against them.
Both the manufacturer and the modifying employer may share liability for resulting injuries.
Evidence in Tool and Machinery Cases
Preserve the equipment involved in your injury. Don't allow employers to repair, modify, or dispose of machinery after an accident. Photograph the equipment, any safety features (or their absence), and conditions at the time of injury.
Obtain incident reports, maintenance records, and any prior complaints about the equipment. Safety experts and engineers can analyze the equipment to identify defects.
Regulatory Standards
OSHA, ANSI, and industry-specific standards establish safety requirements for tools and machinery. Failure to meet applicable standards supports defect claims. However, compliance with minimum standards doesn't prove a product is reasonably safe—better designs may have been feasible.
If you've been injured by a defective tool or machine, consult a product liability attorney. These cases require engineering expertise to identify defects and prove causation.