The OSHA Advisory Committee met this week to provide updates on safety in the workplace. Overall, the OSHA representative shared that there continues to be 15 fatalities each day in the workplace. This includes, but not limited to power industrial trucks. As statistics continue to prove, forklift fatalities remain in the top 5 for OSHA violations as reported for FY2023. The OSHA Advisory Committee also reported that the OSHA Act from 2010 to 2022 has leveled out, meaning that the number of fatalities and injuries have not reduced, it simply has remained the same. News from the OSHA Advisory Committee is concerning.
What does this mean? This tells us that the traditional forklift safety measures have done all they can do, and something new or different needs to happen to help that number go down. However, there is a major challenge. During an economic webinar by Prestige Economics this week reported on the aging population. Since Covid, the experienced over 55 year old forklift operators have not returned to the workplace, and their numbers remain very low. In addition, the 16-19 year olds are taking those jobs and this group of inexperienced forklift operators are increasing at a steady pace.