Occupational fatalities involving forklifts.
BACKGROUND
Forklift rollovers account for approximately 18% of all fatalities involving forklifts and many of the more serious injuries in the workplace.


METHODS
Proportionate mortality ratios were calculated by using Occupational Safety and Health Administration fatality inspection records for forklift rollovers that resulted in a fatality by industry. An analysis of variance procedure was performed on the average ages of the victims by industry.


RESULTS
The retail trades industry had a significantly higher (p < 0.05) than expected proportion of fatalities attributable to forklift rollovers. The analysis of variance identified significant differences in the average ages of the victims; however, post hoc comparisons did not yield significant differences.


CONCLUSIONS
The majority of the fatalities in the retail trades industry occurred in the building materials, garden supply, and hardware retail trades. Engineering and administrative prevention measures are discussed.
Janicak
C A
CA
Department of Health Sciences, Illinois State University, Normal 61790-5220, USA.
Deal
G A
GA
D000062:Accidents, Occupational / Q000401:mortality* / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D006804:Ergonomics; D006801:Humans; D007221:Industry / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009790:Occupations / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011159:Population Surveillance; D012307:Risk Factors; D014186:Transportation / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D014489:United States Occupational Safety and Health Administration