A worker died tragically Sunday morning, following a forklift accident in southeast Houston, Texas.
Deceased Worker Was in Forklift Bucket
The tragedy unfolded shortly after 9:00 a.m. on June 2, 2019, outside of a business in the 6100 block of Nunn Street.
It’s not exactly clear what transpired. But according to the Harris County Institute of Forensic Sciences, the accident occurred while one man was operating the forklift and another was sitting in the bucket.
The worker in the bucket died at the scene. He has only been identified as a 61-year-old Hispanic man.
Although officials are describing the incident as a workplace fatality, they haven’t disclosed what the men were doing or identified their employer. The investigation is ongoing.
85 Fatal Forklift Accidents Every Year
According to the U.S. Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA), forklifts cause approximately 85 fatal accidents every year. Another 34,900 result in serious injury, while 61,800 forklift accidents cause non-serious injuries.
The majority of deadly incidents – 42% – occur when a forklift tips over, while 25% involve a worker being crushed between the vehicle and another object. The remaining occur when workers are crushed between two vehicles, struck or run over by a forklift, struck by falling objects, or fall from a platform on a forklift.
About 42.5% of deadly forklift accidents occur in manufacturing, more than any other industry. Construction takes second place, with 23.8% of all forklift deaths, followed by wholesale trades, transportation, retail, and mining.
Preventing Forklift Accidents
Fortunately, employers can prevent most forklift accidents by adhering to simple safety rules.
- Keep up on training: OSHA requires training for all forklift operators and estimates that over 700 accidents would be prevented by proper training every year.
- Maintain a clean, organized workplace: Keep the work area well lit and free from product, trash, or other obstructions.
- Use enhanced safety mechanisms: Ensure the forklift is visible to pedestrians with blue lights, mirrors at aisle corners, and other enhanced safety features.
- Proper maintenance: Perform routine safety inspections before every shift and address maintenance issues in a timely manner.
- Maintain loading and unloading procedures: Heavy or poorly stacked loads, high speeds, or a poorly maintained loading dock can contribute to forklift accidents.
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Our Undefeated Work Accident Lawyers are investigating this tragedy and will post an update should more information become available.
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