Forklifts – Major Cause of Construction Injuries and Deaths

At any point in time, there are approximately 252,000 construction sites across the United States. The construction industry employs over 6.5 million people and results in a high percentage of construction accidents. The construction industry as a whole has a higher fatal injury rate than any other industry, with forklift injuries and deaths being among the most common causes of construction injuries and deaths.

Forklift Hazards

About 95,000 construction workers are injured annually due to forklift hazards. Of those 95,000 forklift injuries, about 100 result in death. The most common hazard for employees operating forklifts is due to forklift turnover while an employee is in the driver's seat.

Reducing Forklift Injuries and Deaths

There are a number of precautions construction companies can take to reduce the number of forklift injuries and deaths that occur each year, including:

• ensuring all forklift operators are properly certified and trained for safe handling of the construction equipment
• ensuring forklift equipment is property maintained and inspected for defects prior to each use
• not allowing employees to "fool around" while using the forklift or perform stunts
• requiring forklift operators wear seatbelts whenever driving a forklift
• ensuring the rollover protective structure is in place and properly maintained
• ensuring the reverse signal alarm is operation and loud enough to be heard over the surrounding noises on the construction site
• forklift loads are kept table and arranged property according to the capacity of the forklift

Contact us today for a free New York construction accident case evaluation with the online form or by calling 877-288-9191.



Lever & Stolzenberg, LLP is located in White Plains, New York and serves clients throughout the state, including New York City's five boroughs (The Bronx, Brooklyn, Queens, Manhattan and Staten Island) as well as Westchester County, Rockland County and Long Island. 

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