Warehouse workers are an invaluable piece of the American workforce. Throughout the country, they ensure that products are properly stored, shipped, and packaged. There is however, a high price for this profession. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, there is an average of 4.9-recorded nonfatal injuries per 100 warehouse workers each year. OSHA reports forklifts result in 100 deaths and over 95,000 injuries each year.
Warehouse work is a labor-intensive job, usually requiring manual lifting and with that, back injuries and falling objects. The very nature of the job presents a wide variety of potential injuries with high shelves, ladders, misplaced boxes, packaging supplies falling to the floor and being tripped over, and much more.
Fortunately, many of these accidents are avoidable with the proper workplace safety measures and proper training. Ensuring that forklift drivers are adequately instructed and licensed greatly reduces the number of fatalities and injuries. Furthermore, workers need to be vigilant in their reporting unsafe working conditions or hazards to their managers, thereby decreasing the overall chances of a colleague or themselves suffering from a potential mishap. A slip or fall on a hard concrete warehouse floor can mean missed work or permanent harm.
If you or someone you know has been injured or killed in a workplace accident, contact an attorney at Abraham, Watkins, Nichols, Agosto, Aziz & Stogner by calling (713) 222-7211 or 713-222-7211.