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Construction Accident

• How to Avoid Scaffolding Accidents in Kansas City

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Preventing Kansas City Forklift Accidents

According to the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH, nearly 100,000 injuries are reported each year as a result of forklift accidents. One hundred of these injuries result in workplace fatalities. National fatality data from NIOSH indicates that forklift-related fatalities most commonly involve forklift overturns, workers on foot being struck by forklifts and workers falling from forklifts. Sometimes forklifts fall off docks or other raised structures. But, with proper training and safety precautions, most forklifts accidents can be prevented.

First of all, all forklift operators should be trained. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) regulations require that all forklift operators to be certified. Training should include both classroom instruction and hands-on training and should be tailored to the job. Once training is completed, forklift operators should be evaluated to ensure that they can safely operate the forklift.

• Employers should make sure that workers do not operate a forklift unless they have been trained and licensed.

To prevent injury, employers should ensure that the forklift is well-maintained and passes regular inspections.

Preventing pedestrian-forklift accidents

When possible, pedestrian traffic should be kept separate from forklift and other machinery traffic. Walkways should not be used as forklift travel paths. In areas where pedestrian traffic and forklifts meet, there should be safety features such as mirrors, crosswalks, stop signs, flashing lights, painted strips on the floor and other warning signs. Forklift operators should be trained to slow down or stop at all crosswalks and sound the horn and to maintain a safe speed.

• Separate forklift traffic and foot traffic where possible.
• Restrict the use of forklifts near time clocks, break rooms, cafeterias, main exits, and other areas with heavy foot traffic.

Preventing forklift rollovers and falls from forklifts

All forklifts should be equipped with a safety seat and seat belt.

Workers should receive training in dealing with unbalanced or unusually shaped loads. They should not drive forklifts that are overloaded and should keep loads close to the ground when driving. Loads should be raised and lowered only when the forklift is stopped.

Work areas should be well-maintained. If there are any cracks, crumbling edges and other defects on loading docks, aisles and other operating surfaces warnings should be posted and these areas should be repaired as soon as possible.

If you are injured while working at a construction site in Kansas City, contact the personal injury attorneys at the Kansas City Accident Injury Attorneys at 888-348-2616. Our Missouri construction accident attorneys have helped many injury victims just like you to get fair compensation for their injuries and lost wages after a workplace accident.

Learn more about on-the-job injury; request your copy of our FREE book, “10 Essential Steps You Must Take to Protect Your Injury Claim – How You Can Escape the Personal Injury Trap.”

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Latest News

• Posted on 10/27/2011Three Injured in Scaffolding Accident in Kansas City
• Posted on 5/13/2011Kansas City Construction Crews on Alert after Two Workers Injured in Crane Accident

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Construction Accident

• I'm a Kansas City construction worker who was injured on the job; I heard that I can't sue because of Missouri Worker's Compensation law. Is that true?

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