Forklift Flips and Crushes Driver

A forklift was travelling empty with its forks elevated, creating a high center of gravity. When it went around a corner too fast, the forklift tipped. The driver was thrown out and crushed to death.

This forklift fatality was one of the nearly 100 occurring each year in the United States. About 18,000 injuries requiring absence from work are also recorded annually in forklift mishaps. Most of the injuries occur in the manufacturing sector. Also racking up a number of deaths and injuries involving forklifts are these industry sectors, listed in descending order:

• wholesale trade
• transportation and utilities
• retail trade
• construction
• services
• agriculture, forestry and fishing

Training in safe driving techniques is vital for anyone operating a forklift. In this case, speed, failure to wear a seatbelt and driving with the forks elevated also contributed to this fatality.