Construction Site Accidents – Forklift Accidents

Forklifts are one of the most dangerous pieces of heavy equipment on a construction site. Annually, more than 100 workers are killed and an estimated 20,000 workers are seriously injured in forklift accidents on construction sites. Forklifts are sophisticated pieces of heavy equipment that should only be operated by trained and licensed workers – the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has a standard training and evaluation project that all forklift operators must complete before they can operate a forklift. It is the duty of the construction company, general contractor or sub-contractor to make sure that operators are properly trained and that the forklifts are properly maintained.

The highest percentage of forklift accidents is due to overloading. Overloading is a double-edged sword, because forklift operators get injured when forklifts tip over, while workers can also get crushed by falling materials and suffer serious injuries or even be killed. These accidents occur not only due to operator error or negligence, but also due to pressure from the contractor or owners to increase efficiency and encouragement of excessive loading.

The second most frequent types of forklift accidents are those occurring when other workers, or even pedestrians, are struck by forklifts. Such accidents can easily be avoided if forklifts are properly equipped with side mirrors and automatic signals that sound when the forklift is in operation, warning nearby workers or pedestrians. Also, injuries to pedestrians can easily be avoided if construction sites are properly demarcated or fenced in.

If you or a family member have suffered injury due to a forklift accident you may have the right to claim compensation from the company. This includes loss of earnings if you are sub-contracted. The cases will of course rest on your involvement and possible negligence, as all workers on site are expected to act with a reasonable amount of caution.

The terms of compensation are subject to interpretation by the company and their insurance agents. If you feel that their offer of compensation is unfair or unsatisfactory, then you may need to turn to legal help to initiate a claim against your employer or contractor. An attorney can help you bring a claim against the company responsible without jeopardizing your job.