If you work in a big-box store, you are no stranger to cardboard boxes. After all, manufacturers and warehouses use boxes to protect goods when they are en route to your store. While your store may reuse some empty boxes, collapsing the remainder is necessary to save space.
That’s where commercial-grade box compactors come in, as compactors can reduce the size of a box by as much as 80%. Doing so, though, requires a great deal of force. Therefore, you should exercise extreme caution when working with your store’s box compactor.
Crush injuries
Arguably, suffering a catastrophic crush injury is your most significant risk when working with or near a box compactor. This type of injury happens when the compactor’s heavy plates trap and compress part of your body. According to the National Library of Medicine, crush injuries can include catastrophic damage to bones, blood vessels, ligaments, nerves and soft tissue.
Electrocution risk
As you probably suspect, it takes a substantial amount of electricity to power commercial-grade box compactors. Put simply, if you come into contact with a compactor’s electrical components, you may receive a potentially life-threatening shock. If you survive the encounter, electrocution can leave you with nerve damage, paralysis and other life-limiting injuries.
Safety protocols
If your job duties include working with or near a commercial-grade box compactor, you probably cannot avoid the machine forever. While memorizing and following safety protocols can reduce your chances of suffering a serious injury, you may not be able to eliminate them. This is because machines can malfunction.
Ultimately, if a box compactor causes you to sustain a major injury, pursuing financial compensation may be the only way to ensure you receive the comprehensive medical care you deserve.
