Most men and women who operate a forklift as part of their jobs do so safely and following all safety guidelines that are presented to them by their company. If you are a forklift operator, this is how you should perform your duties too. However, accidents do happen, no matter how many safety precautions are in place and when an accident with a forklift happens it will often lead to an injury in the workplace that needs to be filed as a Connecticut workers’ compensation claim.
Within the last 10-15 years the number of warehouses that service our area has grown exponentially and therefore the number of forklift operators has also expanded. While many warehouses have done the best they can to automate their processes to help keep employees safe and streamline their workflows, there are still many who rely on the physical labor of human workers and for that reason there is still a concern about injuries that are the result of accidents happening in warehouses across the state.
Not only are there safety protocols that are enforced by your employer, but also OSHA's Powered Industrial Truck Operator Training Standard (1910-178) requires that forklift drivers go through a rigorous set of training steps before operating a forklift. These training steps including comprehensive hands-on and classroom training that will teach operators how to execute typical forklift functions such as pushing, pulling, lifting, stacking and tiering materials safely so as to not put anyone at risk of injury.
With all this training and safety protocols surrounding forklift operators you would think accidents are rare and they are, but they do still happen and when forklifts are involved they can often be serious and cause real injuries that will leave the operator or bystanders out of work for days, weeks and even months. Some accidents that are common with forklift operations include the following;
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A tip-over of the forklift. Unlike many vehicles who operate on four wheels, forklifts are top heavy and when loaded with materials this top heaviness can get even worse and cause the forklift to tip over. This can be incredibly dangerous for the driver of the forklift and also for any bystanders that may get caught up in the path of the forklift if and when it tips over. Just like most accidents that happen with a forklift, the best way to avoid this type of accident is to operate the forklift properly.
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Collision. Any vehicle that is operated by a human can be susceptible to accidents that involve a collision with another vehicle or even stationary equipment that may be placed throughout the warehouse. Not only can collisions occur when a forklift is being driven without a load, but when you add a big, heavy load to the vehicle visibility all of a sudden becomes a problem and this can put the driver and anything in her/his way at great risk of colliding with something or someone which can lead to significant damage or injury.
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Falling loads. If a forklift is not properly loaded or is overloaded the loads that it is carrying can suddenly fall from the lift and injure anyone in its path. While loads of any kind can cause falling if not stacked properly, those loads that are oddly shaped, for instance, barrels, can be more susceptible to falling off of the forklift to the ground below. It is imperative that a forklift operator works to make sure that the load is properly secured before moving it so injuries can be avoided.
Operating a forklift is not a small task and those who do so for a living have significant training and regulations that they must abide by to operate the vehicles safely. Not all accidents can be prevented through safety training alone and even the safest operator has accidents sometimes as well. Therefore it is important to understand that if you do get injured as the result of an accident involving a forklift at work you may be entitled to file a Connecticut workers’ compensation claim.
While many injuries that happen at work can be quite straightforward, some can be complex and require an experienced attorney to help guide you through the claims process. Contact our office and one of our board certified workers’ compensation attorneys will speak with you about the situation you find yourself in and work with you to help protect your long-term interests.
