Two workers were injured in a conveyor belt accident at a Long Island recycling plant the morning of Aug. 25. According to a report in the New York Daily News, rescue workers pulled out the workers from under the roller system at the plant in Oceanside. A 68-year-old man was airlifted to an area hospital where he was listed in stable and critical condition. His 62-year-old co-worker was treated for non-life-threatening injuries. Officials did not provide details of how the accident occurred.
There have been other similar incidents in the region involving conveyor belts. In 2016, a 40-year-old worker at an Oceanside concrete recycling plant was killed by a conveyor belt, according to CBS News. In November, a 73-year-old recycling plant worker in Clifton, New Jersey, was crushed in one such incidents, according to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). A 35-year-old employee was killed by a conveyor belt in Farmingdale in September.
Conveyor Belt Accidents and Injuries
A conveyor belt accident in the workplace can result in serious injuries ranging from cuts and fractures to life-altering conditions such as amputations or crush injuries. These incidents often occur due to inadequate safety measures, lack of proper training, machine malfunction or failure to maintain equipment. Employers have a legal duty to provide a safe working environment, including protective guards, emergency stop controls and clear safety procedures for operating or repairing conveyor systems.
Conveyor belt accidents lead to a wide range of injuries depending on the speed, size and function of the machinery. One of the most common types is crush injuries, where a worker’s hand, arm, or other body part becomes trapped between moving parts. These can lead to severe tissue damage, broken bones or even amputations. Lacerations and abrasions are also frequent, as sharp edges or fast-moving belts can cut or scrape skin.
Another common category is fractures and sprains, often occurring when workers are pulled or struck by moving materials. Burn injuries may happen if the conveyor is overheated or if friction causes skin damage. In more serious cases, accidents can result in head or spinal injuries, particularly if a worker is pulled onto the belt or struck by falling objects. These injuries can be life-changing, requiring long-term treatment and seriously affecting a worker’s ability to return to employment.
It is important for injured workers to report the accident immediately, seek medical attention and document the circumstances of the incident. Consulting a workplace injury lawyer can also help ensure fair compensation. By holding employers accountable and enforcing strict safety practices, the risk of conveyor belt accidents can be significantly reduced, protecting workers and improving industrial standards.
Compensation for Injured Workers
An injured worker in New York City is entitled to workers’ compensation benefits, regardless of who was at fault for the accident. Workers’ compensation provides medical treatment, some wage replacement, and other benefits to employees who suffer work-related injuries or illnesses.
In addition, workers may also be able to file a third-party claim against a negligent (careless) party other than the employer or co-employees for significant monetary damages and have two sources of compensation available for their losses. Examples of third parties include, but are not limited to, general contractors, construction companies, sub-contractors, building owners, managing agents, drivers of other vehicles, etc. In cases where a worker dies from injuries suffered on the job, surviving family members may seek death benefits through workers’ compensation and/or file a wrongful death claim against a third party who may be held liable for the fatal incident.
Contacting an Experienced Lawyer
If you or a loved one has been injured in a workplace accident, the experienced New York personal injury attorneys at the Law Offices of Kenneth A. Wilhelm can help you better understand your legal rights and options, and also fight hard to recover just compensation for you. For over 53 years, our skilled accident attorneys have established a proven track record of helping injured victims get fair compensation for their losses.
Our law firm recovered $3,375,576 for a construction worker (an undocumented immigrant) who was injured on the job — one of the highest construction case settlements in New York that year. Our law firm also recovered $3,000,000 for a man who fell and suffered two broken legs when he walked into an open elevator shaft. Also, one of our clients obtained a verdict for $43,940,000 and another of our clients got a verdict for $23,500,000, both in medical malpractice cases.
Please contact us TOLL FREE 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at 1-800-WORK-4-YOU (1-800-967-5496). WE CAN EVEN COME TO YOU. There is no attorneys’ fee unless we recover money for you. We can also help with personal injury, lead poisoning and medical malpractice cases including, brachial plexus palsy (Erb’s palsy) and cerebral palsy cases in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, or Florida. If you have been seriously injured in any of the 50 U.S. states, please call us and we will try to help you with your case.
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Source: https://www.nydailynews.com/2025/08/25/conveyor-belt-accident-long-island-injury-recycling-plant/