The US Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has opened an investigation following the death of a worker at an industrial complex on October 2, after he was allegedly hit by a forklift.

The accident happened at CF Industries’ Donaldsonville, Louisiana nitrogen fertiliser plant.

In a statement, the company says: “At approximately 1:45pm on October 2, 2024, a CF Industries employee at the Donaldsonville Complex was injured”.

“This was an isolated incident with no related operational issues or offsite impacts.”

CF Industries confirmed in a statement the following day that the worker had died in hospital the following day.

Data from the National Safety Council (NSC) reveals a marginal rise in forklift-related workplace accidents in 2021-22 with 15,480 reported, up from 15,430 for 2019-20.

The NSC reports there were 73 workplace fatalities involving forklifts, order pickers and platform trucks in 2022, an increase of three from 2021. Data is now released every two years with no official data for the 2023 period currently available.