Forklift Accidents at Work

When a man stole a forklift from a local Waldorf store, he drove it about a half mile until he crashed it into a vehicle in a parking lot. When the driver in the parked car fled, the forklift driver chased her, eventually killing her. Now, that’s a pretty bizarre event, and doesn’t really reflect the typical ways in which forklifts are used.

Forklifts are present in many warehouses and facilities across the country, used to transport bulky and heavy materials. They are so common that many view them as relatively harmless pieces of equipment. In fact, when used by poorly trained employees, they can be extremely dangerous.

Injury Statistics 

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has published some disconcerting facts related to forklifts:

• As many as 62,000 injuries involving forklifts occur annually.
• On average, 87 fatalities occur every year across the United States.
• Forklift injuries are generally more serious than other kinds of workplace injuries, with the average number of lost workdays at 13 per accident (compared to 8 days lost for other types of injuries).
• The average cost of a forklift injury adds up to $41,000.

Accidents that Commonly Occur

Some of the most common accidents are preventable:

• Forklift rollovers that are a results of unbalanced loads, quick turns, driving with a raised load, and turning while on a hill;
• Crashing into pedestrians when drivers are fatigued, distracted, or just plain careless, or when clearly designated pedestrian walkways and forklift paths are not present;
• Loads falling off of forklifts due to improperly loading or moving, bent forks, or other defects;
• Forklifts falling to lower areas because there is no dock plate, trucks roll away, or floors are slick;
• Workers falling from forklifts when they make the dangerous choice to stand on the forks;
• Collisions occurring when operators are blinded by tall loads, blind spots, and raised forks;
• Mechanical breakdowns resulting from poor and irregular maintenance.

Mitigating Risk

Companies are responsible for providing a safe workplace. That means they are obliged to:

• Provide comprehensive, methodical training and regular refresher courses;
• Regularly inspect and maintain equipment;
• Ensure there are safety functions on forklifts including backup alarms, mirrors, and load backrests;
• Clearly designate travel routes for people and machinery;
• 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 La Plata & Waldorf personal injury attorney at The Law Office of Hammad S. Matin, P.A. today.

Source:

cnn.com/2023/07/04/us/forklift-hit-and-run-maryland