Failure to maintain powerful and expensive machinery seems like a poor excuse for an accident, but many employers try to cut corners at the expense of their workers’ safety. This web page will address forklift maintenance to help you understand what companies should be doing to keep their forklifts fully operational.
The Chicago forklift accident attorneys of Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers LLC defend the rights of all workers who have been injured in workplace accidents and will aggressively pursue the compensation that you are entitled to if you have been hurt due to employer negligence.
We find it unacceptable whenever someone is seriously injured in an incident that could have been prevented if his or her employer had only met its obligation to provide a safe work environment.
How to Identify Potential Maintenance Concerns
Our Illinois forklift injury lawyers are aware of the many ways employers cut corners in order to limit their expenses. Maintaining heavy machinery at the expense of a safe work environment should not be one of these ways and OSHA requires employers to address any mechanical concern that may increase the risk of a workplace accident.
By performing a daily inspection of your forklift, you can identify safety concerns and report them to your supervisor. Your employer is required to make the needed repairs and if your employer refuses to do so, your company will be held liable for any accident that results.
Here is a list of things you should check every day before you get behind the wheel of a forklift.
- Tire pressure and tread. Your ability to support a load can depend on your tires and if they are not inflated evenly, it will impact your ability to make turns or change your center of gravity. If you discover a problem with any of your tires, you should not operate the forklift until the tires have been repaired or replaced.
- Hydraulics system. Even a minor leak can result in the eventual failure of your hydraulics system, resulting in a load bearing down on you when you least expect it. When you perform your daily inspection, look for any visible leaks and report them immediately, even if they don’t seem significant.
- The condition of your forks. Making sure that your forks are straight and free of damage is important. The entire weight of each load is supported by your forks and if they are bent or damaged, it can cause the load to fall when it is being raised or lowered.
- Safety devices. It is critical that you have access to all of the devices meant to keep you and your coworkers safe. Make sure that your horn, turn signals, and backup lights are in working order before you begin working.
Manufactural Defects
There are times when equipment failure is due to poor design or the use of subpar materials in the production of your forklift. Daily inspections are still instrumental in discovering problems prior to putting yourself in a situation where you can be harmed.
Should a manufactural defect be the cause of an accident, the manufacturer may be held liable for your injuries in addition to your employer if proper inspection protocol was not followed.
Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers LLC is a leading personal injury law firm in Illinois and has successfully recovered compensation on behalf of thousands of workers harmed in workplace accidents. If you have been injured, it is important that you understand your rights so that you can recover the damages that you are entitled to in order to move forward with your life.
Contact us today to arrange a free consultation with one of our highly qualified and experienced Chicago forklift accident attorneys. Once we have collected the information we need, we will explore every legal option available to ensure that we maximize the value of your case and recover all of the damages the law will allow. We work solely on a contingency basis, so should we be unable to secure compensation on your behalf, our services will not cost you a thing.
