Forklift accident causes death of 2, workplace injury to 1

On Behalf of | Oct 3, 2014 | Workplace Accidents

Operators of forklifts in Oklahoma may not always realize how dangerous their jobs are. It is vital that proper training is provided for any workers who perform duties on or around a forklift. It is a dangerous machine and could cause a severe, or even fatal workplace injury in an instant.

Emergency responders reported the deaths of two workers and injuries to another after a forklift accident just after midday on a recent Friday. The accident occurred when workers were on a loaded elevated forklift platform, installing tiles two stories up on a condo complex. The accident is still being investigated, but it is suspected that it was a shift in weight that caused the forklift to topple over.

Residents in the area who witnessed the incident rushed to the aid of the victims. The Edmond police reported that two workers in their 50s lost their lives while a 21-year-old worker was rushed to the hospital with severe injuries. The worker who was operating the forklift did not suffer serious injuries and is being questioned by investigators.

Oklahoma workers are usually covered by the workers’ compensation insurance fund, which assists victims of a workplace injury. The families of the two deceased workers may claim death benefits from the fund and will likely be entitled to reimbursement for funeral and burial expenses. The injured worker’s compensation may cover medical expenses and, depending on the severity and nature of the injuries, he may receive compensation for rehabilitation. A financial compensation package to cover lost wages would likely be available to the injured worker, as well as the families who lost their loved ones in this tragic workplace accident.

Source: okcfox.com, “Forklift topples over in Edmond, two killed“, , Sept. 19, 2014