November 14, 2025

Forklift turnovers and roadside work hazards 

As a service to our policyholders, Texas Mutual shares serious workplace injury trends based on catastrophic injuries and fatalities reported to our claims department. Not all of these reported injuries are covered by workers’ compensation insurance, but our goal is to help you ensure these types of incidents do not happen in your workplace. Find safety tips below to help keep your employees safe on the job.

If you have questions, we encourage you to contact us at 844-WORKSAFE (967-5723) or safety@texasmutual.com.

In this alert:

• Forklift turnovers
• Roadside work hazards

Forklift turnovers

In a recent workplace incident involving a forklift, an employee was operating the equipment when it overturned, trapping them underneath. The employee suffered serious injuries.

General requirements for powered industrial trucks, like forklifts, is one of the most frequently cited standards by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). It’s important to understand proper safety procedures before operating equipment to avoid common hazards such as turnovers.

• Use only approved and properly maintained equipment that you’ve been trained on.
• Never operate equipment or machinery if you’re feeling unwell or fatigued.
• Always perform a pre-use inspection before operating a forklift.
• Wear a seatbelt at all times while the forklift is in use.
• Stay alert and maintain clear communication with nearby co-workers.

Roadside work hazards 

In a recent roadside work incident, an employee was operating a vehicle while their co-workers were cleaning up items in front of it. One of the employees was struck by the vehicle, resulting in serious injuries.

Injuries from roadside or vehicle-related accidents can be severe and may occur in a matter of seconds. It’s critical to follow established safety protocols, complete job-specific training and maintain clear communication with the entire team at all times.

• Make sure you’ve received job-specific training before starting work.
• Follow formal safety protocols for any equipment you’re operating.
• Stay aware of your surroundings at all times, both as a driver and a pedestrian.
• Avoid the use of cell phones or other distractions while operating or working near vehicles.

Get free safety resources

Texas Mutual policyholders have access to thousands of free training materials in our multimedia safety resource center, including our safety catalog with up-to-date resources.

To access the free materials, log in to your texasmutual.com account and select Safety. If you need help accessing safety resources or you have a safety question, call us toll-free at 844-WORKSAFE (967-5723).

Download a PDF (1.12 MB) version of the November Safety Alert.