Fatal occupational injuries associated with forklifts, United States, 1980-1994

Severe injuries from product movement in the U.S. food supply chain

INTRODUCTION

The modern food supply chain presents unique hazards to employees that result in higher morbidity and mortality rates versus other industries. Employees in food manufacturing, wholesaling, and even retailing experience relatively high numbers of occupational injuries and fatalities. One reason for the high hazard rates may be the reliance on a synergistic packaging system designed to load and transport food products within and between manufacturers, wholesalers, and retailers. Packaged food products are often aggregated using palletizers before they can be transported by forklifts and pallet jacks. Materials handling within facilities is critical to the efficient functioning of all members of the food-related supply chain, but product movement can be a source of occupational injuries. No previous research has examined the cause and result of such hazards.

METHOD

This paper aims to examine severe injuries related to the packaging and movement of food products in segments of the food and beverage supply chain from manufacturing to retailing. An OSHA database was used to investigate all severe injuries in the six years from 2015 to 2020. The focus was on the food supply chain for the period since OSHA began mandating new reporting procedures for severe injuries.

RESULTS

Results show there were 1,084 severe injuries and 47 fatalities during the six-year period. Fractures of the lower extremities were most prevalent, with the most frequent event type being transportation-related such as pedestrian-vehicle incidents. Significant differences were seen in the three parts of the food supply chain.

PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS

Implications are drawn for key sectors of the food-related supply chain to reduce packaging- and product movement-related hazards.

Trends of occupational fatalities involving machines, United States, 1992-2010

BACKGROUND

This paper describes trends of occupational machine-related fatalities from 1992-2010. We examine temporal patterns by worker demographics, machine types (e.g., stationary, mobile), and industries.

METHODS

We analyzed fatalities from Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries data provided by the Bureau of Labor Statistics to the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health. We used injury source to identify machine-related incidents and Poisson regression to assess trends over the 19-year period.

RESULTS

There was an average annual decrease of 2.8% in overall machine-related fatality rates from 1992 through 2010. Mobile machine-related fatality rates decreased an average of 2.6% annually and stationary machine-related rates decreased an average of 3.5% annually. Groups that continued to be at high risk included older workers; self-employed; and workers in agriculture/forestry/fishing, construction, and mining.

CONCLUSION

Addressing dangers posed by tractors, excavators, and other mobile machines needs to continue. High-risk worker groups should receive targeted information on machine safety.

Comparison of visibility measurement techniques for forklift truck design factors

This study applied the light bulb shadow test, a manikin vision assessment test, and an individual test to a forklift truck to identify forklift truck design factors influencing visibility. The light bulb shadow test followed the standard of ISO/DIS 13564-1 for traveling and maneuvering tests with four test paths (Test Nos. 1, 3, 4, and 6). Digital human and forklift truck models were developed for the manikin vision assessment test with CATIA V5R13 human modeling solutions. Six participants performed the individual tests. Both employed similar parameters to the light bulb shadow test. The individual test had better visibility with fewer numbers and a greater distribution of the shadowed grids than the other two tests due to eye movement and anthropometric differences. The design factors of load backrest extension, lift chain, hose, dashboard, and steering wheel should be the first factors considered to improve visibility, especially when a forklift truck mainly performs a forward traveling task in an open area.

Perceptions and attitudes toward workplace transport risks: a study of industrial lift truck operators in a London authority

Workplace transport risks remain the second largest cause of work-related fatal and major injuries in the UK. In the period 2004-2005, of the 5,427 workplace transport injuries, 68 were fatal and industrial lift trucks were associated with 24% of accidents. This study aimed to quantify risk perceptions and attitudes of lift truck operators for workplace transport risks and to ascertain opinions on common accidents, risk factors, and control measures. The cross-sectional study design with a postal questionnaire collected data in a population of lift truck operators (n = 140). Questions related to training and experience; perception of risks; safety attitudes, awareness, and knowledge; and safety responsibility. A response rate of 61% (n = 86) indicated lift truck operators had a high perception of workplace transport risks. Common lift truck incidents were considered "very serious" while respondents demonstrated a good knowledge of accident risk factors and control measures. Greater support was called for from employers and regulatory authorities to improve workplace safety. Recommendations include future safety initiatives for lift truck operators. These may be useful to organisations and enforcing authorities charged with safety obligations.

Construction equipment and motor vehicle related injuries on construction sites in Turkey

Research on occupational accidents on construction sites in Turkey is very few. Moreover, research on motor vehicle and equipment accidents also do not exist. Investigation in the scope of this study shows that after falls and contact with electricity, accidents involving heavy equipment and motor vehicles rank third and fourth, respectively. This study aims to reveal the characteristics of these types of accidents, deduct the prominent causes that lead to fatalities as well as permanent disabilities using the present data. With the aid of obtained results, recommendations are made for safety experts on how to derive data from insufficient sources in Turkey and to evaluate these data for prevention and mitigation of the risks that construction workers are exposed to. 168 fatal and 38 non-fatal traffic accident-caused incidents as well as 206 fatal and 97 non-fatal construction equipment accidents, which were selected from official statistics and expert reports, were taken into consideration. Analysis and classification of these accidents were done according to the way they happened, the type of construction site and the occupation of the victims. Moreover, the leading causes of fatal and non-fatal injuries, to which drivers, operators and co-operators are exposed, are presented. Critical findings concerning prominent ways of occurrence, type of construction work and occupation are presented; and a number of measures for reducing the present risks are suggested. Some approaches for analysing relevant data are proposed for further research.

The role of design issues in work-related fatal injury in Australia

PROBLEM

This study aimed to provide an assessment of the contribution of design to the occurrence of fatal work-related injuries in Australia.

METHODS

The Australian National Coroners' Information System was the data source for fatal injuries. Deaths resulting from workplace injuries on or between 1 July 2000 and 30 June 2002 were included.

RESULTS

Seventy seven (37%) of the 210 identified workplace fatalities definitely or probably had design-related issues involved. In another 29 (14%), the circumstances were suggestive that design issues were involved. The most common scenarios involved problems with rollover protective structures and/or associated seat belts; inadequate guarding; lack of residual current devices; inadequate fall protection; failed hydraulic lifting systems in vehicles and mobile equipment; and inadequate protection mechanisms on mobile plant and vehicles.

SUMMARY

Design is a significant contributor to work-related fatal injury in Australia. There is considerable scope for preventing serious work-related injury through improving design of plant, equipment, and vehicles used for work-related purposes.

Development of a loading dock safety evaluation tool

INTRODUCTION

Companies that use forklifts to load and unload trucks at loading docks are well aware of the main danger associated with this type of activity (i.e., the possibility of the forklift falling or tipping over when the truck suddenly moves away from the dock). Even if various truck restraint measures can be implemented to reduce the possibility of this type of accident, a number of hazardous incidents that result in a forklift tipping over from a loading dock still do occur regularly in day-to-day activities. This situation has brought experts to examine and evaluate the effectiveness of different measures and systems depending on the context in which they are used.

METHODS

The present study touched upon both the technical and the organizational aspects of the restraint measures that could have an impact on safety. Certain elements were examined very closely, especially the failure of mechanical devices and their relation to the environment in which they are used, as well as the systemic interaction between people and the various restraint measures in use in a given context.

CONCLUSION

This article presents a safety evaluation tool regarding restraint measures or systems for trucks docked at loading platforms - a tool that, of course, would take into consideration both the specific contextual aspects related to the docking bay itself, and to the plant.

IMPACT ON INDUSTRY

This tool is designed to help companies choose the optimal safety measures to implement, while remaining realistic in terms of the technical and economic aspects of any given situation.

Work-related deaths in Washington State, 1998-2002

INTRODUCTION

In Washington State, 87 workers are killed each year, on average, while in work status. To understand these incidents and to assist in focusing on and development of potential prevention measures, they must be well characterized.

METHODS

Work-related fatalities between the years 1998 and 2002 are described by the demographics of the victims, types of incidents, the victims' occupations, and industries and location in which they worked.

RESULTS

Motor vehicle- and machinery-related incidents accounted for nearly 33% and 14% of the incidents, respectively. Agriculture, forestry, fishing, hunting, and mining (n=87), and construction (n=83) had the most fatalities. Fatality rates per 100,000 workers for these industries were 25.7 and 8.7, respectively, compared to the state-wide average of 3.1 fatalities/100,000 workers.

DISCUSSION

These data indicate numerous areas for prevention of work-related traumatic injuries and fatalities.

Lower back disorders among forklift operators: an emerging occupational health problem?

BACKGROUND

Most studies focusing on the occupational hazards associated with forklift operation have examined risks of fatalities and traumatic injuries. Few studies have examined the magnitude of risk of musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs). We review and critically appraise the epidemiological studies conducted on forklift operators in relation to MSDs, such as lower back pain and neck problems.

METHODS

A comprehensive search of databases resulted in the identification of seven epidemiological studies that addressed MSDs. A critical appraisal of these studies was conducted using epidemiological principles and a meta-analysis approach that involved the use of the confidence limit method to determine an overall "meta-odds ratio."

RESULTS

The methodological quality of these studies ranged from "marginal" to "average" with the exception of one study, which was considered "good." The meta-odds ratio for lower back pain among forklift operators was 2.13 (95% CI: 1.57, 2.87).

CONCLUSIONS

Our results suggest that forklift operators are at increased risk of lower back pain. Additional high quality epidemiological studies are needed in the US, however, to determine the magnitude of risk for MSDs. In this regard, studies should address not only lower back pain among forklifts operators, but also neck pain. A full exposure assessment of physical and non-physical factors in these studies is needed.

Have young workers more injuries than older ones? An international literature review

PROBLEM

Two questions were posed in this global literature review: Do young workers have a higher occupational injury rate? Are the injuries of young workers more often fatal than those of older workers?

METHOD

The studies of nonfatal and fatal injuries were collected based on the following criteria: (a) published in peer-reviewed journals; (b) the young workers were under 25 years of age; (c) the injury rate or fatality rate of young workers and the overall rate was published; and (d) description of the population and the number of injuries was presented.

RESULTS

The majority of 63 nonfatal studies reported showed that young workers had a higher injury rate than older workers. Twenty-nine out of 45 studies on fatal occupational injuries indicated that young workers had a lower fatality rate than older workers. These results are clearer for men than for women.

IMPACT ON INDUSTRY

The results showed that young men were a risk group for occupational injuries. However, the injuries of young workers were reported as less often fatal than those of older workers.