An 8-year-old boy was killed Sunday in a forklift accident at his father’s workplace in Woodland, California.
Patrick Trafican brought his son Joseph Trafican to work with him at PT Welding on Tanforan Avenue, according to ABC 10 News. The accident occurred shortly before 10:30 a.m., when Jospeh was standing in the parking lot. A forklift that was passing by hit the boy and seriously injured him.
The boy was rushed to Woodland Memorial Hospital, but he died there from his injuries. Police said the Calilfornia Division of Occupational Safety and Health (Cal/OSHA) was notified about the deadly accident.
The Yolo County coroner said Monday that the boy’s cause of death was compression asphyxia or suffocation, according to preliminary results of his autopsy. Compression asphyxia can occur when someone’s chest or abdomen is crushed under a large weight or force, such as the forklift.
Federal statistics show there are about 85 forklift fatalities and 35,000 serious injuries per year, according to Safety News Alert. The main causes of forklift fatalities are:
- tip-overs (42%)
- crushed between forklift and a surface (25%)
- crushed between forklift and another vehicle (11%)
- struck or run over by a forklift (10%)
- struck by falling material (8%), and
- fall from platform on the forks (4%).
National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) case studies indicate that the forklift itself, the factory environment, and actions of the operator can cause fatal accidents. NIOSH research also indicates that many workers and employers are not using — and may not even be properly trained in — proper forklift safety procedures to reduce the risk of injury and death.
The trial attorneys at Blackman Legal Group, a California-based law firm founded by renowned trial attorney Clifford Blackman, have been representing injury victims since 1976, and have special expertise in cases involving workplace accidents and injuries. The nationwide toll-free number to call for a free consultation is 1-866-692-8126.
