Forklift Accidents Claimed 97 Lives Across the U.S. in 2024, Intella Parts Analysis Finds

Texas recorded the highest number of fatalities, while collisions, crushing incidents and falling loads were the leading causes.

HOLLAND, Mich., Oct. 20, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- A review of Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) accident records identified 97 workplace fatalities involving forklifts during 2024, the most recent year for which complete OSHA fatality statistics are available. The findings highlight workplace safety risks.

The incidents occurred across 36 states and territories, with Texas reporting 15 fatalities, more than twice any other state. Georgia followed with seven fatalities, California with six, and North Carolina and Ohio with five each.

"These incidents show that forklift hazards extend far beyond the operator's seat," said Marcel VandenTop, President of Intella Parts. "Many of the fatalities involved pedestrians, maintenance personnel, workers handling materials and employees working around forklifts. Preventing these tragedies requires a comprehensive approach to workplace safety."

New York and South Carolina each recorded four fatalities. Florida, Louisiana, Massachusetts, New Jersey and Tennessee each recorded three. The remaining cases were spread across another 24 states and Puerto Rico, underscoring that forklift-related hazards remain a nationwide safety concern affecting workers across many different industries and workplaces.

Leading Causes of Fatal Incidents
Three accident categories accounted for most of the fatalities identified:

• Struck-by incidents or collisions: 23 fatalities
• Caught, crushed or pinned: 22 fatalities
• Falling loads or materials: 20 fatalities

Forklift overturns and falls from elevation each accounted for 14 fatalities. Electrical contact or electrocution caused three deaths, while one involved another accident mechanism.

The findings reinforce that forklift safety extends beyond traffic management. Overturns, elevated work, unstable loads, crushing hazards and electrical contact all contributed to fatal incidents during the year.

Maintenance Activities Created Additional Risks
The analysis found that 21 fatalities occurred during maintenance, repairs, inspections, loading preparation or other service-related activities. These incidents highlight the importance of properly securing equipment, controlling stored energy, blocking elevated components and preventing unexpected movement before maintenance work begins.

Safety Priorities for Employers
Intella Parts recommends separating pedestrians from forklift traffic, establishing exclusion zones around moving equipment and elevated loads, verifying load stability, enforcing seat belt requirements and inspecting travel routes for slopes, edges and obstructions.

Employers should also consider safety devices, including warning lights and audible alarms, as part of a comprehensive safety program. These devices should complement task-specific training, safe operating procedures and efforts to investigate near misses before serious incidents occur.

"Operator training remains essential, but it's only one piece of the puzzle," VandenTop said. "Employers must also protect mechanics, contractors, pedestrians and anyone else who works around forklifts, even if they never operate the equipment themselves."

About Intella Parts
Intella Parts supplies replacement parts for forklifts, port equipment, and material handling equipment to businesses across the United States. The company also promotes safer operations through warning devices, forklift safety products, training courses and educational resources focused on equipment maintenance and workplace safety.

Contact:
Marcel VandenTop
616-796-6638
[email protected]

SOURCE Intella Parts