Balers are machines used to compress solid waste, primary materials or recoverable materials, with or without binding, to a dense form that will support handling and transportation as a material unit. Balers are essential in various industries, especially the farming and recycling industries. Balers have been involved in accidents resulting in significant injury or death. The Occupation Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has reported 145 incidents involving balers since the year 2000. Furthermore, the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) reported 34 workers were killed between 1992 and 2000 when they were caught in or crushed by the powerful compacting rams in baling or compacting machines. The Knott Laboratory engineers have investigated various baler accidents including workers getting injured from the baler’s automated binding mechanism when they were reaching into the machine to clear a jam, a worker getting injured from the baler’s ejection mechanism, and workers getting crushed under material jammed inside the baler.
Our investigation of baler accidents include the reconstruction of the accident, product liability assessments, Lockout/Tagout (“LOTO”) evaluations, maintenance, and safety engineering. Knott Laboratory engineers apply physics based principles to baler accident reconstruction. Also, we apply our mechanical, electrical, and safety engineering expertise to evaluate product liability claims.
American Association for Justice article about a Baler Arm Amputation and $7 million settlement