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Forklifts are commonly used in warehouses and during construction projects, but they can be a major source of worker injury. More than 34,000 employees are seriously injured in forklift accidents every year.
The most common injuries occur when a forklift overturns, workers fall from a moving forklift or the machine strikes pedestrians. Forklifts have their own specific safety measures that can be counterintuitive, so proper safety training can help protect workers in the event of an emergency.
For example, 42 percent of forklift fatalities occur when the operator attempts to jump out of a slowly-tipping vehicle. Instead, safety officials recommend the driver stay with the vehicle to avoid being crushed.
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) cited Major Metals Co., a Mansfield-based manufacturer of steel tubing, for several serious safety violations during its latest inspection. OSHA noted major violations in how the facility operated and maintained its forklifts, including failure to:
remove damaged forklifts that needed repair or service
train operators in forklift protocols
perform daily inspections
properly monitor equipment that was not being used
Major Metals was also cited for failing to implement lockout/tagout procedures or install proper machine guarding. These violations put workers at serious risk for lacerations, amputations and crushing injuries from moving machine parts.
OSHA’s investigation led to more than $40,000 in fines, but those costs are minimal when compared to the medical costs, lost wages and lost productivity of a worker injury. Proper safety training and accident prevention keeps everyone safe and helps reduce costs.
Find a Workers’ Comp Attorney in Ohio
If you were injured on the job, your employer’s negligence may be to blame. Call Larrimer & Larrimer today to discuss your workers’ comp claim with one of our licensed attorneys. Our experience could make a critical difference in your case.
[Did You Know: Forklifts cause roughly 85 fatal accidents per year, and almost 100,000 injuries.]
Larrimer & Larrimer, LLC—Columbus Workers Comp Attorneys