An investigation is being conducted by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration for a work accident that occurred at a cheese factory in Idaho after a worker was pinned and killed by a forklift there. The man was operating a standing forklift when he became pinned. The coroner determined his death resulted from severe crushing injuries he sustained and ruled the death an accident.
OSHA reports that there are almost 100,000 workers that are injured by forklifts each year overall. This number includes injuries resulting anywhere from non-serious to fatal, and they are credited to improper training or carelessness of operation. When the comparison is made between a number of injuries and the number of forklifts that are in the United States the possibility of a forklift accident is a 1 in 10. Meaning 11% of the forklifts in the U.S. will be involved in an accident. 61,800 are non-serious, 34,900 are with serious injury, and 85 ends in death.
25% of the deaths result from an accident where someone is crushed between a forklift and a surface, and 42.5% are in the manufacturing industry. A staggering 70% of all of the forklift accidents are avoidable through proper training and policy. OSHA has a daily inspection checklist to use for powered industrial trucks that will also assist in reducing the chances of a forklift accident.
When you are involved in an accident that results in an injury that was preventable it important that you talk to someone the is well versed in the law and your rights. Meyerkord & Kurth has been named Missouri Super Lawyers which less than 5% are awarded and is a member of the Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum of which only 1% across the nation achieve. Your first step is contacted us to review your case. Someone from our team of St. Louis personal injury attorneys is ready to answer all of your questions. We are available 24/7 via telephone, contact us today.