According to the federal Occupational Safety & Health Administration, roughly 80 forklift fatalities occur every year, and forklift accidents result in a whopping 35,000 major injuries per year.
Top Industries Responsible for Forklift Accidents
Forklifts are used across multiple industries, which is why forklift accidents are one of the most common types of work accidents in the U.S. Forklift accidents tend to occur in the following industries:
- manufacturing,
- wholesale trades,
- construction, and
- transportation, communication & utilities.
Over the last 2 months, there have been a handful of forklift accident fatalities. They are summarized below.
Related: Recent Forklift Accident Deaths (As of March 2014)
NY Worker Killed in Forklift Roll Over Accident (June 10, 2014)
Early last month, a 22 year old worker in NY was killed when a forklift rolled back and pinned him to a wall. He was pronounced dead at a local hospital in Brooklyn. The worker was trying to push a forklift up a ramp when the forklift rolled back. As with all fatal work accidents, OSHA is conducting an investigation.
Two Maine Workers Killed in Separate Forklift Accidents (June, May 2014)
Also on June 10, a worker in Maine was killed after being crushed by a load being carried by a steer loader. The worker was installing granite steps when he was crushed by the stone load. He died instantly.
Late in May, another worker in Maine was killed when he was also crushed to death by a load being carried by a forklift. Apparently, there was a malfunction with the forklift which caused the load to slip off and land on the worker. He died at the scene.
SC Worker Killed in Forklift Roll Over Accident
A forklift operator and supervisor at a lumberyard in South Carolina died after he fell off the forklift and was run over by the forklift. He died at a local hospital due to severe crush injuries.
Related:
- OSHA Forklift Operator Training Requirements
- Forklift Strike Accidents, Just as Common as Forklift Accident Deaths
Our forklift accident lawyers are licensed in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York, Illinois and West Virginia, and also accept matters in other states on a case by case basis. If you would like a free case assessment, please call (215) 399-9255.
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Sources:
- newyork.cbslocal.com, Man Crushed, Killed In Brooklyn Forklift Accident
- www.theforecaster.net, Man dies in Freeport forklift accident
- bangordailynews.com, Monmouth man crushed to death in accident at work site
- Chronicle.augusta.com, Edgefield man dies after forklift accident