Rapoport Weisberg & Sims P.C. has filed a negligence lawsuit against a machinery company alleging that it modified a food processing machine in a way that led to a worker having his hand amputated at the wrist. The amputation lawsuit sets forth detailed allegations about how the machinery company improperly added a “clean-out door” to the industrial food processing machine in order to speed up production, but added the door without ensuring that any guarding or interlocking to protect workers using the machine. While working inside of this clean-out door, a worker’s hand was suddenly sucked through a pipe by a blast of air pressure as the machine cycled, entrapping his hand in a slide-gate, which then cycled and amputated his hand. The lawsuit alleges the machinery company failed to inform the employer that it lacked the qualifications and experience to safely and properly modify an industrial piece of machinery in conformance with safety standards.
The worker who lost his hand underwent an extensive set of surgical procedures to try and reattach his hand. Due to his injuries, the worker has been rendered permanently disabled. The lawsuit is seeking compensation for the worker’s medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, disfigurement, and permanent disability.
