Many of the tall buildings that grace the Chicago skyline are construction marvels. Through feats of architecture and engineering, massive structures rise from the ground and provide safe, comfortable spaces for individuals to work and live. The construction of those buildings can take years as well as the efforts of many individuals and machines.
Powered industrial trucks, also called forklifts, are useful tools in the construction of buildings and the moving of materials at construction sites. Forklifts are operated by drivers and may be used to pick up, carry, and deliver materials needed throughout a construction project. However, forklifts are sometimes involved in accidents at construction sites. These mishaps are so common, in fact, that the Occupational Safety & Health Administration has created regulations to keep construction sites safe from forklift accidents.
Particularly, forklift use should be restricted to individuals over 18 years of age and to those who have received certified training on how to operate forklifts. Training on particular machines is of vital importance as well, as different powered industrial trucks can have different controls and mechanisms. When workers are asked to use forklifts and other machines with which they are not familiar, they may create dangers that threaten their safety and the safety of others.
Forklift accidents can result when loaded materials fall off of forklifts or when forklifts collide with construction workers or materials. These incidents can result in serious injuries and even deaths. When forklift accidents happen at construction sites, careful investigations can be made to determine where fault may lie for losses suffered. Attorneys who practice personal injury and construction accident law can assist individuals who have been made victims of forklift accidents to determine if and how to pursue their rights to compensation.
