Chester County Holiday Warehouse & Delivery Accidents
Chester County, PA, and the surrounding areas have a lot of Christmas cheer and spirit. From Black Friday, which is after Thanksgiving, to New Year’s Eve, all types of gifts and party decorations are ordered.
While this might be a time off from work for most individuals, warehouse workers find this time of year tumultuous and are prone to more Workman’s Compensation claims due to stress and overwork.
Online shopping has contributed to an excess of warehouse work and, of course, delivery. This has led to increased accidents inside and on the road for workers in warehouse and delivery jobs.
OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health) has information for employers that stresses proper practices, as well as adequate training. Seasonal workers are oftentimes undertrained and more at risk during the entire holiday season.
Major carriers of freight and warehouse workers are the most impacted by the hustle and bustle. Extra hours can leave them drained and exhausted. However, smaller self-employed sub-contractors under a W2, such as food delivery services, can also experience hazards.
Roadways are wetter, with sometimes snow and ice. Loading docks can also become downright precarious. Forklift operators see many injuries routinely, but most often during the holidays, as the skill set needed requires precision and perfect surroundings.
This is well documented on Forklift Safety sites. All accidents during the holidays can be deadly, but forklift operations can outpace other types of injuries in severity in holiday seasonal occurrences.
Most holiday accidents include slips and falls, but more serious injuries can occur, such as loss of limbs and even Traumatic Brain Injury. Pallets that fall on individuals, as well as overturned forklifts that weigh hundreds or thousands of pounds, are culprits in serious injuries.
Duty of Care- Chester County Holiday Warehouse/Delivery Accidents
All employers have a specified Duty of Care that must be followed for employees. Premises Liability is a form of tort law and can be applied to individuals. However, employers are held to a higher standard. Some examples of holiday season rush warehouse and delivery accidents include the following:
- Slips and falls
This is the most common during the holiday season. Workers are tired, seasonal workers appear, and companies must deliver by a specific date or risk a refund. Postal workers, both drivers and carriers, are subject to slips and falls due to slick conditions both inside and outside.
- Toppling of merchandise
This sounds rather odd, but ask any warehouse worker (or attorney who has assisted in this type of negligence case); there must be a standardized system for stacking merchandise. This can happen in a warehouse and even in a retail store where even the public can be injured.
OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration) has specific guidelines for warehouses to follow in proper stacking. The angle of merchandise, as well as the types of merchandise, dictate what is called a “proper stack.”
Improper stacking can lead to huge fines and other types of actions against companies that do not follow these guidelines.
- Freight carrier accidents
These are multiple forms of possible negligence. Trucks must be held to national standards of safety. The drivers can only work a certain number of hours. Weather must be amenable to delivery as snow and ice, plus added darkness in the winter, can cause collisions, slips and falls, and other types of injuries such as muggings and robberies of the drivers.
OSHA again rules in the trucking and freight delivery industries, with perhaps Independent Contractors of a smaller nature, such as private food delivery contractors, taking some of the risks upon themselves. Large companies, however, are bound to these regulations with inspections done routinely.
- Forklift issues
Not practicing the standards of safety for forklift operators can be the most catastrophic injury of all, especially during the holidays. Forklifts are heavy-duty equipment. Special training is needed for the operation of a forklift.
Problems arise during the holidays in warehouses during stacking, loading, and unloading of trucks. Forklift operators need sufficient space for safety and must keep their heads at a certain angle when operating a forklift. The head angle ensures clear vision during operation.
There is actual classroom training that operators must undergo, and this is mandated by the US Department of Labor in conjunction with OSHA under the guidelines of Powered Industrial Trucks/Machinery.
Not only operators but also others in or around a warehouse can be injured by this type of machinery. Duty of Care and Premises Liability Laws are of utmost importance in using forklifts.
Summary-– Premises Liability— Holiday Warehouse /Delivery Accidents
It is obvious that although the holidays bring good cheer, they can also increase stress and negligence for service providers such as warehouse and freight delivery personnel. The Duty of Care is high for suppliers of goods.
If any type of accident occurs, an attorney who is well-versed in this type of negligence should be contacted immediately. Christian J. Hoey ESQ, of Paoli, PA, has won millions of dollars in
All companies have insurance attorneys on their side, so any injured worker needs the “best of the best” fighting for them. A free evaluation exists, and there is a phone and email: cjhoey@hoeylegal.com or 610-647-5151/1-888-GO-HOEY1.