Forklift Accidents Continue Despite Safety Rules
Two accidents involving forklifts took two lives in New York in the same week. On March 23, according to the Star Gazette, a man was killed when a forklift struck him at National Pipe & Plastics in Vestal. A week later, the News Times reported that a Hudson Valley man died when the car he had hoisted up on a forklift fell and killed him.
The accidents underscore the importance of forklift safety and serve as reminders of how easily forklift accidents can occur on New York construction sites. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, every year in the U.S., nearly 100 people die and 20,000 people are seriously injured in forklift-related accidents.
The Occupational Safety & Health Administration maintains stringent rules regarding powered industrial trucks, or forklifts.
These include:
- No one under 18 is allowed to operate a forklift.
- All forklifts acquired and used by an employer must meet design and construction requirements of the American National Standard for Powered Industrial Trucks, Part II.
- Approved trucks must bear identification, such as a label, indicating testing approval.
- The customer is not allowed to modify the forklift in any way that affects safe operations without the manufacturer’s written approval.
The CDC NIOSH has put out this alert: “WARNING! Workers who operate or work near forklifts may be struck or crushed by the machine or the load being handled.”
To prevent injuries, the CDC advises workers to exercise extreme caution, including the following:
- Operate forklifts only if you have been trained and licensed to do so.
- If seat belts are available, use them.
- Any damages or problems involving the forklift should be reported to your supervisor.
- Only raise and lower forks when the forklift is not moving.
- Do not use the forklift to handle loads that exceed the weight capacity of the forklift.
Sadly, accidents can occur even when workers take precautions. Sometimes they happen because employers have neglected to follow OSHA standards.
If you or a family member has been seriously injured in a forklift accident, the New York and New Jersey construction injury lawyers of Ginarte O’Dwyer Gonzalez Gallardo & Winograd, LLP, may be able to help. We represent people who have been hurt on construction sites in New York and New Jersey, helping them recover money as compensation for their injuries.
Sources:
- CDC: Preventing Injuries and Deaths of Workers Who Operate or Work Near Forklifts
- Independent: Farm death funeral
- OSHA: Regulations (Standards – 20 CFR)
- News Times: NY man killed in deadly forklift accident
- Star Gazette: Man killed by forklift at National Pipe & Plastics
