Forklifts, a type of “powered industrial truck,” are heavy machines designed to lift loads that men simply cannot do for loading purposes. But anytime heavy machinery is involved, there is a risk of injury. Not just the operators, but coworkers, customers, contractors, and unrelated pedestrians are potentially at risk when a forklift is not operated safely. You would think as technology continues to advance, they would be safer and there would be fewer forklift accidents. However, statistics show that this is not the case, particularly when it comes to forklift rollover accidents.
Forklift Accident Statistics Then and Now
Between 1980-1994, a survey by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health found that 22% of all forklift accident deaths were caused by a forklift rollover. Pedestrians struck by forklifts were second at 20% and then came workers crushed at 16%. There were 1021 total deaths in those 15 years which is an average of 68 fatal forklift accidents per year. Additionally, the study shows that during that time 37% of all forklift fatalities happened in the manufacturing industry.
Between 2011 and 2017, another survey found that the number of people killed in forklift accidents per year ranged between 74 and 93 annually. This demonstrates roughly a 22% increase in deaths as compared to the 1994 study. While this study did not break down how they occurred, it did indicate that there were 9,050 non-fatal forklift accidents in 2017.
A blog article published on the OSHA website indicates that 24% of all forklift injuries are rollovers, however, they account for 42% of all injuries. Another 36% of fatal forklift accidents involve a pedestrian. Thus, it appears that the same problems are as prevalent today as they were all the way back in the 1980s—only magnified. However, the same studies suggest that the majority of forklift rollovers are happening in the transportation industry now. Why could this be happening?
Trucking Industry and Forklifts
The rise in rollover accidents, particularly fatal ones might be somewhat accounted for by the growth in the trucking industry. The Motor Carrier Act of 1980 largely deregulated the trucking industry. It has since grown to a 940.8 billion dollar industry. Forklift use plays a crucial role in the effort to load and unload commercial motor vehicles faster. So a rise in deaths might be expected due to an increase in use. But the increase in rollovers vs other types of forklift accidents is not so easily explained.
How Do Forklift Rollover Accidents Occur?
Some of the common ways that forklift rollover accidents happen include:
- Driver inexperience,
- Unbalanced loads,
- Failing to observe safe speeds and practices,
- Snagging or catching the forklift on another object,
- Collisions with motor vehicles,
- Making turns too sharp,
- Dock separation accidents,
- Driving off a loading dock or platform.
The fact that these are mostly driver errors and are happening more often suggests that the people hired to operate them are often to blame, however, this is not always the case.
Are Forklift Operators Properly Trained?
Anytime dangerous machinery such as forklifts are clearly dangerous and federal law recognizes this. Or do they? It is against federal law for anyone under the age of 18 to operate a forklift even though you can operate other vehicles at 16. Additionally, there is an entire set of regulations focusing on the design of forklifts. Despite age regulations and design laws, the training course to become a certified forklift operator can be completed online in a few hours with no hands-on training required. If you can then pass the test, you are certified. One site claims: “In only about one hour, students will learn how to operate forklifts, inspect the equipment, avoid hazards, be compliant with OSHA standards, and receive their certification card.” Not bad for a job with a mean hourly wage of $21.38.
Conclusion
Forklift rollover accidents today are responsible for more serious injuries and deaths than any other type of forklift accident. If you are the operator or a coworker of the forklift operator, you may be protected by your employer’s worker’s compensation coverage when a forklift rollover occurs. However, if you are not affiliated with the forklift driver’s company, or your employer fails to provide worker’s compensation, you may need to file a worker’s compensation third-party claim in order to recover the money you need to cover your medical bills, lost wages, and compensate you for your pain and suffering. Talk to a qualified attorney who handles forklift accidents if you find yourself in this situation. Simmons and Fletcher, P.C., has been representing forklift accident victims since 1979.
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