Due to the nature of construction work, manufacturing and other types of manual labor, various types of equipment and tools come with certain risks to Ohio workers. Heavy equipment, vehicles and power tools can all cause significant injuries if used incorrectly or if workers do not receive training on safety measures. Forklifts are a type of commonly used equipment that can cause great harm when used incorrectly.
Forklift safety is essential on construction sites. These measures will not only reduce the number of accidents and injuries, they could actually save lives as well. Estimates from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration suggest that almost 100,000 people suffer injuries in forklift accidents every year, and many of these incidents are preventable.
Common causes for forklift accidents
Sadly, many forklift accidents are the result of improper training and careless behavior. If you are a victim of this type of accident on a construction site, you may face serious injuries and repercussions that could affect your ability to work and care for your family. These accidents may be more common and more serious than you think; consider the following facts about forklift accidents:
- Of all the forklift accidents in the U.S. every year, 34,900 result in serious injury.
- Estimates suggest that approximately 85 fatalities occur on job sites as the result of forklift accidents.
- Approximately 70 percent of forklift accidents are preventable with training and safety measures.
Due to their heavy weight and cumbersome size, this type of equipment can cause significant harm when an accident occurs. Some of the most common reasons for injuries from forklifts include:
- Crushing from vehicle tipping over
- Crushing between two vehicles
- Hit by a forklift
- Run over by a forklift
- Object falling from platform on forks
- Crushed between surface and forklift
These incidents can be physically devastating for workers. Not only is the physical toll severe, the cost of medical care is significant, especially when coupled with a loss of wages from missed work.
Recovery for injured construction workers
Construction and other types of manual workers face risks every time they show up at work. However, you still have the right to a reasonably safe workplace. For you, this may mean having safety measures in place and receiving appropriate training on how to use a forklift safely.
If you suffered an injury because of a forklift, you could have a rightful claim to workers’ compensation benefits. These benefits may allow you to recover from losses associated with health care, rehabilitation, lost wages and other forklift accident-related expenses.