Forklift Accidents at Work

Many facilities have forklifts, including platform trucks and order pickers, on the premises in order to transport hefty materials. Although they seem relatively to be harmless pieces of equipment, the truth is that when used by poorly trained individuals, they can be extremely dangerous.

Facts Worth Knowing

Statistics the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) reveal some troubling facts related to forklifts:

• Up to 62,000 injuries involving forklifts befall workers every year
• An average of 87 fatalities occur annually across the country.
• Forklift injuries are typically more severe than other workplace injuries, with the average number of lost workdays at 13 per incident (compared to 8 for other types of injuries).
• The average cost of a forklift injury is $41,000.

Common Accidents

Some of the most common accidents are preventable:

• Rollovers occur due to many factors, including quick turns, unbalanced loads, driving with a raised load, and turning while on a hill. Employees should be trained to avoid all of these actions.
• Crashing into pedestrians may occur when drivers are distracted, fatigued, or just plain careless. Additionally, failing to clearly designate pedestrian walkways and forklift paths can lead to disaster.
• Loads fall off of forklifts when they are improperly loaded or moved. Bent forks or other defects can impact accidents, as well.
• Forklifts fall to lower areas from semis, or when moving from one area to another in a building, often because there is no dock plate, because trucks roll away, or because floors are slick. Wheel chocks, brakes, and dock plate position should all be standard checks.
• Workers fall from forklifts when they foolishly stand on the forks. Clearly, this is a dangerous move that should never occur.
• When operators can’t see ahead, it’s a disaster waiting to happen. Tall loads, blind spots, and driving with a raised fork can be like driving blind, meaning collisions are more likely.
• Mechanical breakdowns including faulty tires and brakes can mean operators are taken by surprise when the forklift doesn’t work as expected. Regular maintenance checks can prevent these types of accidents.

Minimizing Risk

It’s every company’s responsibility to do everything they can to prevent the accidents that so often result in injury or death. That means they are obliged to:

• Provide thorough training and refreshers;
• Maintain and regularly inspect forklifts;
• Provide safety functions including backup alarms, mirrors, and load backrests;
• Know and follow guidelines and regulations specified by OSHA.

Following a Forklift Accident 

Were you or a loved one injured or killed as a result of a forklift accident? If it can be traced back to recklessness or negligence, you may be entitled to damages to address the cost of injuries, lost wages, and more. To discuss, schedule a confidential consultation with an experienced Kissimmee and Orlando personal injury attorney at Salazar & Kelly Law Group in our office today.

Source:

osha.gov/etools/powered-industrial-trucks/training