Accidents at Work: Attention Forklift Operators- Are You Certified?
If you are a forklift operator or an employee working around forklifts, certain safety measures must be taken to prevent injury. Despite its small size, forklifts are considered heavy equipment and as such serious injury or even death can result from accidents involving people and forklifts. Due to the inherent dangers of operating and working around forklifts, OSHA has established certain measures to govern forklift use in companies that fall under federal jurisdiction. Individual states also have certain rules regarding the use and operation of forklifts to prevent injuries.
Forklift operators must go through required training and receive certification to ensure those operating the equipment as well as those on the ground are not in danger. Common accidents involving forklifts include but are not limited to:
Tipping due to overloading
A lack of rollover protection
Malfunctioning brakes and/or steering
Visibility issues- not using a spotter
Load falling off of forklift
These are just a few of the situations resulting in the tens of thousands of forklift accidents which occur annually. Considering the fact that forklifts are used in hundreds of different applications from construction sites to warehouse docks, it is easy to see why certification is required to operate this piece of equipment.
Anyone who has been injured as the result of a forklift accident has the right to compensation if safety measures have been overlooked. This is true for the forklift operator as well as other employees or pedestrians who may have been hurt as a result of a forklift accident. Accidents involving heavy equipment can be quite severe. Injured parties may be temporarily or permanently disabled resulting in loss of income as well as a lifetime of pain and suffering. Workers compensation insurance can provide benefits if the case is properly handled by an experienced workers compensation attorney.
