Forklift Fatalities and Injuries Stats & Facts

FACTS

1. National fatality data indicate that the three most common forklift-related fatalities involve forklift overturns, workers on foot being struck by forklifts, and workers falling from forklifts. The case studies indicate that the forklift, the factory environment, and actions of the operator can all contribute to fatal incidents involving forklifts.
2. Forklifts account for only 1% of all warehouse or factory accidents. But the accidents tend to be more serious than others, accounting for 10% of all physical injuries in those workplaces.
3. They can weigh up to 9.000 pounds, which is three times heavier that many cars.
4. They can travel up to 18 mph unlike a car, forklifts only have brakes in the front, making them harder to stop.
5. Forklifts are heavier in the rear to compensate for the heavy loads being carried in the front. This uneven weigh distribution can make a forklift is turned by the rear wheels, causing the rear end to swing outward. This increases the chance of tipping over during tight turns.

STATS

Extreme caution in the operation of a forklift is necessary.

• Forklifts account for around 85 deaths every year.
• Forklifts accidents that result in serious injury total 34.900 annually.
• Non-serious injuries related to forklifts accidents reach 61.800 each year.
• A forklift overturning is the most common incident, accounting for 24%vof all forklift accidents.
• If companies implemented more stringent training policies, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) estimates that about 70% of forklift accidents in the US could be prevented.
• A forklift is a dangerous piece of machinery. There some pretty grim accidents statistics to back up that notion. In reality, forklifts account for only 1% of all warehouse or factory accidents. But the accidents tend to be more serious than others, accounting for 10% of al physical injuries in those workplaces.