The presences of forklifts are common place in the packaging, loading and construction industries. Forklifts have a variety of uses, but most forklifts are used to move or load heavy machinery, equipment and materials. They are also used in stocking lumber, steel, motors and other industrial equipment.

Forklift accidents frequently occur in these businesses. The most prevalent accidents with forklifts are in transportation facilities, involving trucking, railroad, barges and the airplanes.

Some of the common causes of forklift accidents are improper safety measures, negligent handling, failure to train and supervise forklift operators, lack of communication and equipment failure.

Sometimes forklift accidents occur just because of poor judgment, hurried loading schedules and simple inadvertence. Forklift accidents can cause serious injuries and death. There are rules and procedures that are laid out by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) that directly apply to forklift use. These guidelines are useful for training forklift operators. Safety is critically important in the operation of forklifts and the heavy materials that are used with them.

Forklifts have many adjustable parts including the forks, the lifts, the tilt back and the forward and reverse gears of the fork truck. Many companies that utilize forklifts have training manuals for its operators.

Kreisman Law Offices has over 35 years in experience in forklift accidents and workplace injuries. If you or someone you love has been injured or killed in a forklift accident, please call us 24 hours a day at 312-346-0045 or toll free at 800-583-8002 for a free and immediate consultation, or complete a contact form online.