Forklift accidents continue to be a serious problem, resulting in thousands of serious work-related injuries and fatalities each year. Sadly, many of these accidents are preventable. For instance, a recent fatal forklift accident resulted in a company being cited for unsafe working conditions, according to an article published by Occupational Health & Safety magazine.

“A forklift typically weighs between 4,000 to 9,000 pounds and poses significant risk of severe injury or death to workers who may be struck-by this equipment,” said Ramona Morris, an Area Officer Director for the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA).

Forklift accident statistics

Thousands of people are injured or killed annually in forklift accidents across the country. Each year, nearly 80 people die and more than 7,000 people are injured in forklift accidents, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).

Workplace accident statistics compiled by the National Safety Council show that forklift accidents resulted in 78 work-related fatalities and 7,290 nonfatal work injuries in 2020.

Common causes of forklift accidents

What makes forklifts so dangerous? Forklift accidents happen for many different reasons. Some of the most common causes of forklift accidents include:

• Poorly maintained forklifts.
• Inexperienced forklift drivers.
• Improper training on how to safely operate a forklift.
• Reckless forklift operators.
• Workers being struck by an object dropped from the forklift.

These are just some of the reasons why forklift accidents happen, but it’s important to remember that workers’ compensation is a no-fault system. Still, obtaining the benefits you’re entitled to isn’t always easy, and it’s common for injured workers to run into obstacles at different points in the process.

How a workers’ compensation attorney can help

You might think you don’t need a workers’ compensation lawyer if you were hurt in a forklift accident at work. All you have to do is tell your employer about your work-related injury, and that’s it, right?

Don’t be so sure. In many cases, workers’ compensation claims quickly turn into complicated legal cases. Often, it’s because of complications that sometimes come up when dealing with your employer’s insurance company. For example, they might claim that you have a pre-existing medical condition and refuse to cover necessary and reasonable medical treatment for your work injuries.

At the Law Offices of Deborah G. Kohl, our workers’ compensation lawyers have been helping injured workers in Rhode Island and Massachusetts for decades. As a result, we have an in-depth understanding of both states’ workers’ compensation laws and how they apply to forklift accident claims.

Put your trust in a law firm that puts your needs first. Contact us and schedule a free case evaluation with a workers’ compensation attorney focused on getting you the outcome your case deserves. We have three offices conveniently located in Rhode Island and Massachusetts and handle workers’ compensation claims in both states.

Heat-related work injuries often occur during the summer at construction sites. That’s why construction companies and workers must do everything possible to prevent such serious construction accident injuries.

But what steps can companies and workers take to avoid heat illness at construction sites? Below, you can learn more about the warning signs of heat illness and tips to stay safe while on the job site.

Common heat-related work injuries

Heat illness, heat stroke, heat exhaustion, and other heat-related injuries often occur on the job. In 2019, a total of 43 people died due to work-related heat injuries, according to workplace accident statistics from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).

And when it comes to different industries, construction workers face the highest risk of dying or being injured on the job due to heat-related illnesses. In particular, construction work “had 13 times the risk of heat-related deaths than the average annual heat-related workplace fatality rate in all other industries,” according to a recent Equipment World article.

That’s why the U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) recently started an educational program focusing on educating construction companies and workers about the dangers of working in dangerously hot weather.

Warning signs of heat illness

Construction companies and construction workers must pay close attention to the warning signs of heat illness and other heat-related injuries. Symptoms of heat illness often include:

• Dry skin or excessive sweating.
• Dizziness and difficulty concentrating.
• Extreme tiredness and fatigue.
• Nausea and vomiting.
• Frequent and severe headaches.

If something doesn’t feel right, construction workers need to act fast. Otherwise, they could put themselves and their co-workers in danger.

Ways to prevent heat illness on construction sites

There are many steps that construction workers and construction companies can take to avoid heat-related injuries and accidents. Preventative measures include:

• Educate construction workers about the dangers of working in high heat and explain what warning signs of heat illness to look for on the job.
• Make sure construction workers have enough water to drink throughout their work shift, especially if where they’re working is consistently above 80 degrees.
• Frequently check on construction workers throughout their work shift to ensure they’re safe and not suffering from heat stroke or other heat-related illnesses.
• Slowly acclimate workers to working in warm-weather conditions.
• Shift when workers work to cooler times of the day, perhaps earlier or later.
• Provide cooling stations where employees can take a break and cool down.

These are just some steps companies and employees can take to prevent heat illness at construction sites. But unfortunately, despite such efforts, heat-related injuries often involve construction workers. Therefore, it’s important that injured construction workers fully understand their legal rights and talk to a lawyer as soon as possible.

How a construction accident attorney can help

Injured workers have the right to seek workers’ compensation benefits, but the process isn’t always easy, especially in cases involving heat-related injuries and illnesses. That’s why the sooner you have a construction accident lawyer handling your heat illness claim, the better. Your attorney can investigate your injury and help you navigate the workers’ compensation process.

The construction accident lawyers at the Law Offices of Deborah G. Kohl understand how the legal system works. That’s because we have been helping injured construction workers in Rhode Island and Massachusetts for decades. When you have our legal team on your side, you can demand the money you need and deserve.

Discover what we can do for you. Contact us and schedule a free case evaluation with a construction accident attorney who knows how to build strong legal cases. We have three offices conveniently located in Rhode Island and Massachusetts and handle workplace injury claims in both states.