Expert Says Increase In Forklift Accidents May Be Related to Improved Economy

A leading forklift safety official says the recent upsurge in forklift accidents could be directly related to the global economic recovery.

Stuart TaylorStuart Taylor, of Mentor Training, says sudden economic changes — both up and down — usually are accompanied by an increase in forklift accidents.

“The connection between the recession and accidents is clear,” Taylor said in prepared remarks he is schedule to make later this month at the UK’s annual forklift safety conference. “In tough economic times struggling companies can be pressured to make cutbacks and, inevitably, that leads to an increase in accidents. What’s less well known is that an upturn is dangerous, too. While workloads increase, confidence takes time to return.”

‘Wait and See’ Attitude Could Lead to Accidents

Taylor says companies are often reluctant to invest in new equipment and skills or to hire more workers until they are confident that the improved economic conditions are here to stay.

“For workers, that can mean longer hours, at higher intensity, under more pressure until, ultimately, mistakes are made,” Taylor said in his remarks, which were released in advance of his appearance at the UK’s National Fork Lift Safety Conference.

The conference will be held September 25 at Warwick University, in Coventry, UK.

Slough of Recent Fatal Accidents

There have been a number of recent forklift-related accidents. On September 10, a forklift operator in Houston, Texas, was killed with the vehicle he was operating apparently fell over the edge of a drain area, local news reports stated. The worker — Marco Aurelio Rodriguez, 33, of Houston — was ejected from the forklift, which then fell on top of him, crushing him. Rodriguez was pronounced dead at the scene.

In Ballymount, Dublin, Ireland, a worker at a recycling plant was killed  when he was crushed by a forklift, according to wire reports.

And in rural north central Pennsylvania, a 17-year-old boy was killed September 11 after he fell out of his forklift and was run over by it while working at a logging company. The boy, Jacob Byler, of Saegertown, Pennsylvania, apparently had backed his forklift off a loading dock, according to local news reports.

Now’s the Time for Forklift Safety Review

According to Stuart, now that there are signs of economic recovery, operators of warehouse and manufacturing facilities should be reviewing forklift safety procedures with their forklift drivers in order to reduce the number of accidents.

“Providing training to anyone who manages or supervises fork lift truck operations is vital in ensuring a company can protect its workers — and its business — from accidents.”