Workers’ Compensation for Forklift Accidents

Caught in/between: This type of accident is one of OSHA’s “fatal four” causes of construction worker fatalities. Caught in/between accidents occur when a worker becomes caught in between objects, such as a forklift and a wall. According to OSHA, these accidents account for seven percent of construction worker deaths.

Failure to follow safety procedures: Forklift operators should chock the wheels when the vehicle is not in use; failure to do so may cause the wheels to roll. Placing chocks (wooden or rubber blocks) in front of and behind the wheels can prevent the forklift from moving backwards and injuring bystanders.

Inadequate equipment maintenance: Employers are responsible for regularly maintaining equipment and ensuring that it is safe for workers to use. If a forklift breaks down in the middle of a job, it can be hazardous to the operator and bystanders. Oil leaks, worn brakes and failing hydraulics should all be fixed expediently to avoid workplace injuries.

Inadequate training/operation: Both federal and state law requires workers to be trained and certified before operating a forklift. Improper or inadequate training can lead to catastrophic accidents. It is easy to misjudge the distance behind a forklift and workers who are not adequately trained can cause bystanders to be hit or otherwise seriously injured by a forklift.

Struck by falling material: When material is not properly secured, it may fall and injure workers. This is also one of OSHA’s fatal four causes of fatalities in the construction industry. According to the National Safety Council (NSC), being “struck by an object” is one of the top three causes of emergency room visits in the U.S.

Struck by/runover: Ten percent of forklift accidents occur when a worker is struck or runover by a forklift. Forklift operators who overload the truck, do not look out for bystanders or otherwise fail to safely maneuver the vehicle may strike or runover workers in the immediate vicinity of the forklift.

Tip-over: Forklifts can tip over when they are overloaded, when they are being driven up a steep incline or when they are being operated by workers who are not adequately trained.  Forklift operators or those working in the immediate vicinity may be fatally injured when forklifts overturn or fall from a loading dock – forklift overturns account for approximately 25 percent of all forklift-related deaths.