Forklift Injuries in Warehousing and Construction Jobs

Warehousing and construction jobs are known to be among the more dangerous types of work in Maryland, and forklift injuries are one type of accident that occurs with some frequency in these industries. Forklifts are also used in other industries where workers can sustain injuries, including in manufacturing, retail work, and agriculture. Dockyards and recycling centers also rely on forklifts, which means workers can be injured in these types of jobs in Maryland, as well. We refer specifically to warehousing and construction since forklift injuries are particularly common in these industries, but you may be able to obtain workers’ compensation benefits if you sustain injuries in a forklift accident at any type of job in Maryland.

Why are forklifts so dangerous? Our Maryland workers’ compensation attorneys can provide you with more information about forklift injuries.

What Are Forklifts? 

Forklifts are industrial motor-driven trucks that are sometimes described as “fork trucks,” and they are used for moving heavy materials, often on or off a pallet, across a short distance. They are used more often in warehousing settings and on various types of construction sites. There are other vehicles that are used in these industries and others that often fall into the general forklift category, as well, according to the National Safety Council (NSC). Those additional vehicles include order pickers and powered platform trucks.

When forklift accidents happen, the NSC clarifies that the accidents typically will fall into one of two categories: a transportation-related accident (usually in which the forklift operator is injured), or a contact-related accident (usually in which a person is struck by the forklift or by heavy objects being transported by the forklift). Transportation incidents are the most common, accounting for more than 50 percent of all reported forklift injuries, according to the NSC.

Injury Risks Involving Forklifts 

Forklift injuries can happen across industries. The NSC identifies the following as job types where these kinds of injuries are common:

• Warehousing and transportation;
• Wholesale trade;
• Retail trade;
• Goods-producing industries;
• Manufacturing; and
• Construction.

What types of injuries occur most frequently in forklift accidents? Consider the following:

• Bruises and contusions;
• Sprains;
• Strains;
• Tears;
• Bone fractures;
• Cuts and lacerations; and
• Traumatic amputations.

When a worker suffers an injury in a forklift accident, it is crucial to seek legal advice about workers’ compensation benefits. The Maryland workers’ compensation system requires injured employees to prove that their injury arose out of an in the course of their employment.

Contact a Maryland Workers’ Compensation Attorney 

If you were injured in a forklift accident in a warehousing or construction job in Maryland, or while working in any other injury, you may be eligible to file a workers’ compensation claim. The workers’ compensation claims process in Maryland can be complicated, and you will need to meet specific requirements set forth under Maryland law. One of the experienced Maryland workers’ compensation lawyers at the Law Offices of Steinhardt, Siskind and Lieberman, LLC can assist you with your case. Contact us today to learn more about how we can help you with your forklift injury workers’ compensation claim.

Source:

injuryfacts.nsc.org/work/safety-topics/forklifts/