Construction sites have a well-deserved reputation for being dangerous workplaces, due in part to the hazardous equipment workers use on a daily basis.
One of the most dangerous types of equipment used on construction sites is the powered industrial truck, better known as a forklift. Operators use these powerful pieces of equipment to move, raise, lower or remove materials, objects, crates, boxes, pallets, or other containers on the job site.
Unfortunately, serious accidents and even deaths can occur on construction sites when forklifts are poorly maintained, operated carelessly, or operated by individuals without the proper training.
In fact, approximately 95,000 workers are injured each year—and an additional 100 or so are killed—in accidents involving forklifts, according to the U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA).
While forklift turnover accidents are the most common, construction site workers, visitors, or passersby can also be injured or killed when crushed between a forklift and another surface; crushed between two forklifts; struck or run over by a forklift; or hit by materials falling from a forklift.
Injuries associated with construction site forklift accidents are wide ranging and may include:
- Broken or crushed bones
- Head injuries, such as concussions and traumatic brain injuries
- Back and spinal cord injuries, including herniated discs, and partial or total paralysis
- Internal injuries and organ damage
- Lost limbs
OSHA’s research also shows that up to 70 percent of all forklift accidents could have been prevented with adequate training, and by implementing and following the proper safety protocol.
Consult a Knowledgeable Construction Accident Attorney
If you were injured in a Pennsylvania construction site forklift accident caused by the negligence of a worker from another company, you may have grounds for a third-party construction accident claim. The experienced attorneys with the Accident and Injury Law Group can review your case, and help you understand your rights and options for compensation. Contact a workers’ compensation attorney today to schedule an appointment for your free initial case analysis.