What Are the Most Common Causes of Warehouse Accidents?

When the proper precautions aren’t taken, there are a number of ways that workers and visitors can suffer severe warehouse accident injuries. Fortunately, the team at Morelli Law is familiar with all the different types of incidents that can occur in a warehouse.

Our attorneys are highly experienced and can represent individuals injured in nearly any type of warehouse incident. As a result, our team is also an excellent resource for those who want to learn more about the most common causes of warehouse accidents.

Lack of Training

Lack of proper training is a major cause of warehouse accidents throughout the country. That’s because when warehouse employees don’t receive appropriate training for their position, they can make mistakes that result in severe injuries.

For example, when a company hires a forklift operator who doesn’t have the proper certification and training to use a forklift safely, a serious accident may occur. After a forklift accident, the victims involved may pursue compensation from the company that hired the untrained worker, as it should have vetted or trained them more effectively.

Lack of Proper Safety Equipment

Lack of proper safety equipment is one of the most common causes of warehouse accidents. Whenever a company uses a warehouse, it’s their responsibility to provide the safety equipment employees need to protect themselves.

OSHA requires that all warehouse employees have the personal protective equipment (PPE) they need to prevent injuries and negative health effects. Here are some of the types of safety equipment that warehouse workers need to protect their health:

• Hard hats
• Gloves
• Foot and eye protection
• Earplugs
• Respirators
• Full body suits

It’s important to note that different workers will require different PPE depending on their duties. However, if they don’t have the safety equipment their job requires, they could suffer serious injuries that warrant a workers’ compensation or personal injury claim.

Disorganized Workplace

A disorganized workplace cluttered with tools, products, and other obstacles can cause a number of different warehouse accidents and injuries. One of the most common incidents that arise from a disorganized workspace is the trip and fall accident.

Cluttered warehouses can be even more dangerous when they contain scaffolds and elevated platforms. When these areas are strewn with obstacles, workers can easily trip and fall from a dangerous height. When employees are injured in a warehouse scaffold accident, they can suffer broken bones, spinal cord damage, and even traumatic brain injuries (TBI).

Lastly, when a warehouse is disorganized, there’s always a possibility that workers will come into contact with hazardous materials or dangerous chemicals. When chemical exposures occur, affected workers can suffer burns and other serious health complications.

Poor Electrical Wiring Methods and Design

Incorrectly installed and poorly designed electrical wiring is another common cause of warehouse accidents. Sometimes, when companies outfit their warehouses with temporary wiring, they may cut corners to save time or just because the electrician in charge doesn’t want to put the effort in to make the workplace safe.

When this happens, warehouse employees can suffer serious electrocution injuries that could put them in the hospital and make it hard for them to return to work. When electrical wiring is poorly designed and falls short of OSHA’s standards for wiring, similar injuries may occur, most of which warrant a workers’ comp claim or a civil suit.

Lack of Maintenance

Heavy machinery, safety equipment, and other warehouse tools all require regular maintenance, repairs, and sometimes replacements. If an employer fails to keep their warehouse’s equipment in good working order, accidents can occur.

To prevent such incidents from occurring, companies with warehouses should inspect all equipment and safety mechanisms on a regular basis, making fixes and replacements when necessary. When companies fail to maintain their equipment and an accident occurs, the victim is well within their rights to pursue compensation for their injuries and losses.

Poor Communication

Communication is essential in a warehouse environment. For example, if a worker is going to back up a forklift, they need to be able to clearly communicate their intentions to anyone in their path. If a warehouse is too noisy, other employees in the forklift operator’s path may not hear their warning and could suffer serious injuries when the forklift collides with them.

Warehouse workers must also receive training on how to warn their fellow employees about potential hazards and safety risks. When employees know how to properly communicate about safety hazards and are in an environment where they can do so, it’s much less likely that a serious warehouse accident will occur.

Proper Signage

Warehouse accidents are also commonly caused by a lack of proper safety signage. For example, employees need to know if they’re in an area that contains hazardous chemicals so they can wear the correct PPE. If warehouse workers aren’t made aware of such safety hazards, they could suffer lasting injuries that require expensive medical attention.

What to Do if You’ve Been Injured in a Warehouse Accident

Now that you’re more familiar with the common causes behind warehouse accidents, you’ll want to know what you should do if you suffer an injury in one of the incidents mentioned above. The first thing you should do after a warehouse accident is get the medical treatment you need.

Once you’ve received medical care, you should report the accident to your supervisor and speak to an attorney about your best course of action moving forward. A lawyer will likely advise you to file a workers’ comp claim, but in some situations, legal action may be necessary.

If an attorney advises you to file a personal injury lawsuit against a supervisor or third party, they’ll guide you through the legal process and fight for the compensation you need to cover your medical bills, replace your lost wages, and cope with the other effects of the accident.

Reach Out to an Experienced Attorney Today

If you or a loved one has been hurt in a warehouse accident, you could be dealing with painful injuries, expensive medical bills, and a number of other challenges. Fortunately, the attorneys at Morelli Law are closely familiar with all the common causes of warehouse accidents and can file a claim for any of them.

To get the experienced representation you need to recover compensation for your injuries and losses, contact our firm today. We’ll schedule a free, no-obligation consultation between you and a knowledgeable lawyer. They’ll ask you about your accident, discuss your legal options, and create a strategy that’s tailored toward your unique needs.