When you think of all the types of heavy equipment hazards that you can encounter working construction here in New York City, forklift accidents might not even be on your radar.
But the fact is that people can get seriously injured and even killed working on forklifts. Read on for some tips on how to be safer when using this type of machinery.
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) states that about 85 people die every year in the United States from forklift accidents. Most commonly, they are crushed when the machine tips over.
An additional 34,000 suffer serious injuries while operating forklifts. As you can see, these machines really can do some serious damage.
If you work with and around forklifts, you should:
- Receive training and become licensed to operate the machinery
- Wear a seat belt
- Never drive it too fast, and be aware of changing weather and environment conditions
- Be very careful when ascending steep grades
- If a forklift tips over, don’t leap off. Maintain your grip on the steering wheel instead
- Beware of the edges of loading docks, etc.
- Don’t carry too much weight
- When traveling, keep forks near the ground
- Only carry passengers if the forklift is designed to do so
- Stay away from heavily trafficked footpaths
Now that you realize just how dangerous forklifts can be, you can exercise more caution when you are working with or near them. If you suffer injuries from a forklift accident on the job, you could face a long road to recovery. Learn what you need to do to protect your rights to seek compensation for your damages, losses and injuries.
