A crushing injury can range from an injury that injures a finger or toe and leaves you with little long term damage, to injuries that involve the compressing of a body part or parts under extreme pressure.  Crushing injuries occur when a body part is subjected to tremendous force, usually from being crushed between two solid, heavy objects.  Ever year, approximately 125,000 workers suffer from crushing injuries in the American workplace; the injuries vary in their severity and intensity.

Effects of Crushing Injuries

Generally, crushing injuries that occur in the workplace tend to involve large sections of the body, and include damage and significant trauma to bones, nerves, organs, blood vessels and soft tissues.  There is significant bruising, bleeding and fracturing of bones.  Severe psychological trauma may also be inflicted on the victim.  There may be long term effects of a crushing injury because of damage to the nerves, as well as the consequences of any organ damage that results.  For instance, compartment syndrome that occurs when blood vessels or nerves are damaged by crushing force can result in loss of sensation in the affected part.  In extreme cases, there may be paralysis of the affected part.  If there is extensive nerve damage and cell death occurs, then the only method to prevent even more serious consequences like gangrene or death, may be an amputation of the part

Causes of Crushing Injuries

Industries that involve the use of heavy machinery and equipment with moving parts like conveyors and rotating shafts, tend to see more workers suffering crushing injuries each year.  When machinery like this is used in a plant, employers are required to make sure that all equipment is safe to operate, and well maintained.  Workers must be trained in the proper methods of operation, cleaning and maintenance of the equipment.  Workers should handle hazardous machinery only under supervision of more competent persons at the facility.  They must be provided equipment and tools that reduce the danger of crushing injuries, and must be adequately trained in their proper use.

Besides being inflicted by machinery, crushing injuries can occur when body parts get stuck between powered doors, under debris, or in forklifts and other heavy equipment.  Workers who are involved in lifting heavy loads may suffer these injuries if they drop their loads.  Workers must be trained to place their hands in, or reach under or around a powered machine, only when all power to the machine is turned off.