A man is in danger of having his arm amputated after it was crushed, according to officials reporting on the accident. The man’s arm was injured by a forklift, a dangerous piece of equipment often involved in heavy equipment accidents, as many New York residents are already aware. Thankfully, his injuries are not thought to be life-threatening, though the repercussions on his ability to work may be considerable.
The man is said to have been part of a crew hired to work at a hospital currently undergoing construction. It is believed he and other members of the crew were working to offload a forklift from a truck when the accident occurred. Somehow, the man’s arm became pinned between the forklift and a hydraulic leg, causing traumatic damage to his arm.
He was eventually freed by rescue workers arriving on the scene and was rushed to a local hospital for immediate treatment. It is not currently known whether the man will lose his arm as a result of the accident, but medical authorities believe he will survive in either case. The appropriate authorities, including the local division of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, were notified of the incident, and no further information became available as of this report.
Heavy equipment accidents can be traumatic even when not life-threatening. In this case, the man may lose his arm as a result of his accident, an outcome New York residents will agree has the capacity to drastically reduce the man’s ability to work and otherwise enjoy life. Workers’ compensation benefits will likely be of great help to the man and any dependents as he recovers and struggles to adjust to a potentially permanent disability.
Source: sgvtribune.com, Worker hurt in forklift mishap at City of Hope in Duarte, Brian Day and Ruby Gonzales, Feb. 20, 2014