Worker injured when load slips off forklift Birmingham, Ala.
A worker sustained crushing injuries when a load of more than a dozen plasterboard sheets was dropped on him during renovation work in a building. The accident happened as a forklift was loading boards onto a hoist that was taking material to the top of the five-story building. According to a spokesperson for the fire department, the load apparently slipped off the forklift, trapping the worker on the hoist. The worker was trapped for about 10 minutes before fire crews used liftinggear to free him. Paramedics gave the man treatment on the scene before taking him to a nearby hospital. The forklift driver was treated for shock. This accident is under investigation.  Post  Feb. 19, 2001
Dropped propane tank bursts into flames Charlotte, N.C.
Firefighters were called to a construction site after a 500-pound propane tank that was being moved by a worker rolled off of a forklift and burst into flames. According to a captain with the fire department, "The impact of the tank striking the ground apparently sparked the fire." The explosion and fire damaged two trucks and a nearby construction trailer. Officials estimated the damage at about $50,000. No one was injured in the accident.  Charlotte Observer  Feb. 2, 2001    Forklift drops load, killing worker in Oregon Springfield, Ore.
A worker at a particle board processing plant died after being crushed beneath two stacks of particle board. The boards were approximately four feet high and 75 feet long. According to police, the man was doing cleanup work when a forklift operator knocked the stacks of board on top of him.  No charges are expected to be filed against the forklift operator, but the state OSHA will investigate the matter.  News-Review, Nov. 5, 2000
Steel plates crush forklift operator Wayne, Mich.
A warehouse worker was crushed to death when steel plates fell from the forklift he was operating. According to a spokesperson for the local police department, he was driving a large-capacity forklift loaded with steel plates when he apparently got out of the lift to make some adjustments. Eight 10'x20' steel plates, each weighing approximately 13,000 pounds, then fell off the forklift and crushed the man.  Romulus Roman  November 2000
Truck driver killed in forklift accident Curtiss, Wis
A truck driver was killed after two bundles of corrugated sheet metal came off a forklift and struck him. The man was pinned against the rear duals of the semi-trailer. The man sustained injuries to his left leg, left arm, and head. He was airlifted to a hospital where he was pronounced dead.  The accident is under investigation.  Marshfield News-Herald  October 2000
Load drops on worker Santa Clarita, Calif.
OSHA is investigating the death of a maintenance worker who was killed when a pallet jack fell from a forklift and crushed him. The victim was standing underneath the raised forks when the jack slipped off of them. The victim had planned to repair the jack.  OSHA investigators said they will look at the company’s training policies and whether the victim followed guidelines. A report will also be filed, said an OSHA spokesperson.  "This doesn’t seem like the proper procedure for operating a forklift," the spokesperson said. Los Angeles Times August 2000
Foster City, Calif.
A forklift operator, moving more than 50 28-pound bags of fertilizer, died when the load fell on top of him. He had loaded the bags onto a pallet in a storage area and raised the pallet with a forklift. According to officials, the victim then stepped out of the forklift to check or straighten the load. Reports indicate that the pallet became unstable and fell onto him.  A co-worker saw the man’s legs poking out from under the bags. He began to remove the bags while another worker called 911. The fire department responded and removed the remaining bags from the victim’s body.  Fire department officials said the man was bent over with his face between his legs. He was unconscious, and he was not breathing. Paramedics began life support, but he never regained consciousness. The man was taken to a local hospital where he was pronounced dead. Officials will determine the cause of death, and Cal-OSHA is conducting an investigation of the site.  San Mateo County Times, April 20, 2000
Canton, Ohio
A worker died after steel fell from a forklift and struck him. He was standing on the plant floor when the incident occurred. Though co-workers tried to revive the man, the hospital reported him dead on arrival. The company and OSHA are investigating the accident. Repository, Aug. 11, 1999
Canton, Ohio
A worker died after steel fell from a forklift and struck him. He was standing on the plant floor when the incident occurred. Though co-workers tried to revive the man, the hospital reported him dead on arrival. The company and OSHA are investigating the accident. Repository, Aug. 11, 1999
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Worker injured when load slips off forklift Birmingham, Ala.
A worker sustained crushing injuries when a load of more than a dozen plasterboard sheets was dropped on him during renovation work in a building. The accident happened as a forklift was loading boards onto a hoist that was taking material to the top of the five-story building. According to a spokesperson for the fire department, the load apparently slipped off the forklift, trapping the worker on the hoist. The worker was trapped for about 10 minutes before fire crews used lifting gear to free him. Paramedics gave the man treatment on the scene before taking him to a nearby hospital. The forklift driver was treated for shock. This accident is under investigation.  Post  Feb. 19, 2001
Dropped propane tank bursts into flames Charlotte, N.C.
Firefighters were called to a construction site after a 500-pound propane tank that was being moved by a worker rolled off of a forklift and burst into flames. According to a captain with the fire department, "The impact of the tank striking the ground apparently sparked the fire." The explosion and fire damaged two trucks and a nearby construction trailer. Officials estimated the damage at about $50,000. No one was injured in the accident.  Charlotte Observer  Feb. 2, 2001    Forklift drops load, killing worker in Oregon Springfield, Ore.
A worker at a particle board processing plant died after being crushed beneath two stacks of particle board. The boards were approximately four feet high and 75 feet long. According to police, the man was doing cleanup work when a forklift operator knocked the stacks of board on top of him.  No charges are expected to be filed against the forklift operator, but the state OSHA will investigate the matter.  News-Review, Nov. 5, 2000
Steel plates crush forklift operator Wayne, Mich.
A warehouse worker was crushed to death when steel plates fell from the forklift he was operating. According to a spokesperson for the local police department, he was driving a large-capacity forklift loaded with steel plates when he apparently got out of the lift to make some adjustments. Eight 10'x20' steel plates, each weighing approximately 13,000 pounds, then fell off the forklift and crushed the man.  Romulus Roman  November 2000
Truck driver killed in forklift accident Curtiss, Wis
A truck driver was killed after two bundles of corrugated sheet metal came off a forklift and struck him. The man was pinned against the rear duals of the semi-trailer. The man sustained injuries to his left leg, left arm, and head. He was airlifted to a hospital where he was pronounced dead.  The accident is under investigation.  Marshfield News-Herald  October 2000
Load drops on worker Santa Clarita, Calif.
OSHA is investigating the death of a maintenance worker who was killed when a pallet jack fell from a forklift and crushed him. The victim was standing underneath the raised forks when the jack slipped off of them. The victim had planned to repair the jack.  OSHA investigators said they will look at the company’s training policies and whether the victim followed guidelines. A report will also be filed, said an OSHA spokesperson.  "This doesn’t seem like the proper procedure for operating a forklift," the spokesperson said. Los Angeles Times August 2000
Foster City, Calif.
A forklift operator, moving more than 50 28-pound bags of fertilizer, died when the load fell on top of him. He had loaded the bags onto a pallet in a storage area and raised the pallet with a forklift. According to officials, the victim then stepped out of the forklift to check or straighten the load. Reports indicate that the pallet became unstable and fell onto him.  A co-worker saw the man’s legs poking out from under the bags. He began to remove the bags while another worker called 911. The fire department responded and removed the remaining bags from the victim’s body.  Fire department officials said the man was bent over with his face between his legs. He was unconscious, and he was not breathing. Paramedics began life support, but he never regained consciousness. The man was taken to a local hospital where he was pronounced dead. Officials will determine the cause of death, and Cal-OSHA is conducting an investigation of the site.  San Mateo County Times, April 20, 2000
Canton, Ohio
A worker died after steel fell from a forklift and struck him. He was standing on the plant floor when the incident occurred. Though co-workers tried to revive the man, the hospital reported him dead on arrival. The company and OSHA are investigating the accident. Repository, Aug. 11, 1999
Canton, Ohio
A worker died after steel fell from a forklift and struck him. He was standing on the plant floor when the incident occurred. Though co-workers tried to revive the man, the hospital reported him dead on arrival. The company and OSHA are investigating the accident. Repository, Aug. 11, 1999
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Unsteady forklift load kills worker San Francisco, Calif. -  A construction worker died when an unsteady load of lumber on a forklift toppled and flipped the machine onto him. Local police said that the foreman attempted to clear a piece of lumber from a ramp when he noticed the load becoming unbalanced. He jumped on the rear of the lift truck to counter the load. The vehicle then flipped forward, crushing him.  The San Francisco Chronicle  April 25, 2001
Man crushed by forklift Gresham, Ore. -  A 24-year-old man died after he was crushed by a forklift at a  home-and-garden store. The man, who had been working at the  store for just one week, was killed when the forklift he was  operating suddenly flipped over. According to witnesses, the  machine turned over when it hit a soft spot in the back lot of the  building. This accident is under investigation by local police, and reports  of the incident are being forwarded to OSHA.  Pioneer   Feb. 28, 2001
Worker dies after forklift turns over on him Abbeville, S.C. -  A worker was lifting insulation onto the top of a cable plant's  new addition with a construction forklift when he fell off the forklift,  and it turned over on him. The man was taken to a nearby hospital  and was then transferred to another hospital, where he died from  trauma to the lower abdomen. This accident is under investigation  by OSHA.  Anderson Independent-Mail  Feb. 24, 2001
Worker dies when forklift topples on him Moses Lake, Wash. -  An employee of a landscaping company died in a forklift  accident. According to the local coroner, the cause of death was  blunt force injuries to the chest after a forklift fell on the man.  Apparently, the worker was riding on the side of the forklift when he  fell off, and the forklift toppled on top of him.  Columbia Basin Herald   Feb. 26, 2001
Man dies after forklift fall Santa Barbara, Calif. -  A 57-year-old man died following a forklift accident. According to reports by the local police department, the man was driving a rough terrain forklift that was loaded with cinder blocks up a long driveway when, for an unknown reason, he lost control of the unit. The forklift fell 300 to 400 feet backward down the side of a mountain before coming to rest against several trees. Emergency personnel performed first aid and advanced life support on the man at the scene. The man was then transported to a nearby hospital, where he was pronounced dead. The accident is under investigation by Cal-OSHA.  News-Press  Jan. 31, 2001
Off-duty employee killed in forklift accident Westville, N.J. - An off-duty worker for a water company was killed in a forklift accident. The off-duty employee was visiting a co-worker and assisted the co-worker in taking out trash. The man operated a forklift to take a load of cardboard outside, and he hit a curb on his way back to the building, overturning the forklift. The man was then ejected from the vehicle and was trapped under the weight of the forklift.  The vicitim was found by his co-worker, and police later arrived in order to remove the weight off of the victim with the help of the local rescue squad. The injured man was transported to a hospital where he was pronounced dead.  This accident is under investigation by the borough police, the county prosecutor's office, and OSHA.  Courier-Post  Dec. 29, 2000
Forklift tips in Texas mishap, crushing operator Crockett, Texas — The owner and operator of a pallet company died when he fell underneath his forklift while using it to push wood. He was operating the forklift on a road with a slight incline and pushing wood into a heap when the equipment apparently slipped down the incline, tipped over, and crushed him. According to the local justice of the peace, he probably died instantly.  Houston County Courier, Nov. 2, 2000  Forklift falls from loading dock Rockford, Ill. - A woman was killed when the forklift she was driving fell nearly five feet from the edge of a loading dock. The woman died instantly after sustaining crushing chest injuries. It is unclear whether she was wearing a safety belt or whether the forklift had a safety cage or roll bars. OSHA and local authorities are investigating the accident.  Rockford Register Star  November 2000
Forklift overturns, killing operator Woodburn, Ill. - An employee of a store was killed when the forklift he was operating overturned, pinning him underneath the machine.  According to the county coroner, he was operating the forklift on a concrete pad when at least one of the wheels left the concrete and ran into a grassy area, causing the machine to overturn. The victim died at the scene.  Telegraph Staff Report  October 2000
Operator sustains broken leg in forklift tip over Santa Rosa Beach, Fla. - A forklift operator suffered a broken leg when his forklift overturned at a church construction site.  According to a district fire chief, the forklift was moving over a sidewalk at the site when the load shifted unexpectedly. As the machine began to overturn, the man apparently tried to jump out of the forklift, but a boom attached to it struck his right leg.  Northwest Florida Daily News 
 October 2000   
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San Angelo, Texas–An inmate was killed and three others injured when a telescopic handler tipped over. They were in a personnel platform attached to the unit to paint the second story of a school.  A school employee was operating the unit when it overturned, throwing the three men and striking a fourth who was on the ground. The assistant superintendent said the driver didn’t notice anything out of the ordinary before the lift overturned. The forklift operator was not injured. It was unclear how long the first inmate was trapped under the telehandler or how the unit was moved to free him. Two doctors from the school tended to the injured men until paramedics arrived.  The incident is under investigation and the corrections sergeant said authorities would take statements from the driver and others involved. "As far as we can tell, it was nothing mechanical," he said. The victim’s body was sent to the county medical examiner for an autopsy, a practice that is standard when an inmate dies while in custody. San Angelo Standard Times, Sept. 24, 1999
Winchester, Va.–A forklift being used to erect steel girders toppled killing one worker and leaving a second in critical condition. According to an OSHA administrator, the steel shifted, causing the forklift to topple. The incident is still under investigation. Winchester Star, Dec. 18, 1999  
San Angelo, Texas–An inmate was killed and three others injured when a telescopic handler tipped over. They were in a personnel platform attached to the unit to paint the second story of a school.  A school employee was operating the unit when it overturned, throwing the three men and striking a fourth who was on the ground. The assistant superintendant said the driver didn’t notice anything out of the ordinary before the lift overturned. The forklift operator was not injured. It was unclear how long the first inmate was trapped under the telehandler or how the unit was moved to free him. Two doctors from the school tended to the injured men until paramedics arrived.  The incident is under investigation and the corrections sargeant said authorities would take statements from the driver and others involved. "As far as we can tell, it was nothing mechanical," he said. The victim’s body was sent to the county medical examiner for an autopsy, a practice that is standard when an inmate dies while in custody. San Angelo Standard Times, Sept. 24, 1999   
Jersey City, N.J.–A forklift operator was arrested and charged with manslaughter for his alleged role in the death of his co- worker. The victim died from chest and head injuries after his forklift was tipped over by another forklift.  "We’re trying to find out if they were fighting or just horsing around," said the first assistant prosecutor. "But we did learn that there apparently was a dispute between the two men at the workplace prior to the incident." When police arrived on the scene, co-workers were attempting to give the victim CPR. He was taken to a local medical center where he died. Detectives learned that the accused tried to pick up the victim’s forklift with his machine, but instead knocked it over on its side and trapped the operator. According to investigators, the incident was a senseless death. Jersey Journal (City Edition), March 23, 2000  
Harrisburg, Ill.–A coal miner died after the forklift he was operating tipped over. According to the sherriff, the man was driving the forklift on a road leading into the mine when he drove over a 10- inch drop at the side of the pavement. The report indicates that the forklift continued several feet before tipping over.  The worker was reportedly wearing his seatbelt when the cab pinned his head against the pavement. Mine workers used a loader to lift the unit off of the victim who was pronounced dead at the scene. The incident is under investigation.  Daily Register, March 25, 2000  
Blakeslee, Ohio–A teenager died when the forklift he was operating rolled, throwing him from the cab and pinning him underneath. According to the sherriff’s office, the boy was operating the forklift in an alley. As he turned right into a storage yard, deputies said he lost control of the machine. He was taken to a local hospital where he later died. Reports did not release the name of the business the teen was working for or indicate why the he was operating the unit. Crescent-News, Dec. 23, 1999  
Carmel, Calif.–A worker sustained no injuries when the telescopic handler he was operating tipped forward. He was able to put the unit in neutral and successfully jump down from the cab. "It looked as if they were trying to lift a pallet full of 2-by-12s and the weight caused the crane to topple over and put it on end," said a local police officer.  Construction workers at the condiminium construction site removed most of the wood from the forks and a tow truck pulled the telescopic handler back on the ground. "We didn’t know how it was going to react when it came down," said the towing manager. The company was able to slowly lower the vehicle without any problems. The Carmel Pine Cone Jan. 14, 2000
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Forklift slices man's throat  Ocala, Fla.
A landscape business owner received a large gash on his neck after a metal platform attached to a forklift struck his neck. The man was checking the forks, which were jammed in the down position. He was trying to free the forks when they kicked up. As a result, the platform hit him in the neck, creating a 9- to 11-inch laceration. The man was taken to a local hospital, where he was treated for his injuries.
Star-Banner   March 21, 2001

Worker killed after being run over by forklift Roxboro, N.C.
A man who was working as part of a crew loading a truck was run over by a forklift that was being used in the truck-loading operation. A spokesperson for the sheriff's department said the forklift was loaded with crates and that the forklift operator could not see the area in front of him. The man received CPR and was then taken to a hospital in a nearby town, where he was pronounced dead.
Courier-Times  Mar. 28, 2001

Worker killed when trapped under forklift Prescott, Ariz. - 
A construction worker died after he became trapped beneath the forklift he was driving. The man was pronounced dead on the scene from major crushing injuries. According to a spokesperson for the fire district, the man got off the forklift to do something. Paramedics estimated that the man had been trapped under the forklift for at least 10 minutes before someone discovered him.
Daily Courier  Mar., 22, 2001

Injured worker accidentally activated lift controls Muskegon, Mich. - 
A worker sustained severe head and chest injuries while operating an aerial lift. The man was working on an overhead door in a garage when he apparently leaned over and accidentally activated the controls of the lift. According to authorities, the worker became pinned between the bucket and supporting trusses.
Paramedics worked to revive the injured worker for approximately 25 minutes before he was taken to a hospital, where he was listed in critical condition.
Sunday Chronicle  Feb. 11, 2001

Malfunctioning forklift causes carbon monoxide leak Fort Kent, Maine - 
Twenty-six employees of a wood-specialty plant were sent to a local hospital due to a carbon monoxide leak from a malfunctioning forklift. The forklift was a propane-powered unit being used as a substitute for an electric forklift that was not operating. All the employees were treated and released from the hospital later that day.
Bangor Daily News  Feb. 3, 2001

Worker killed when lumber load is lowered Loretto, Tenn. - 
A worker was killed after he was struck in the head by a stack of lumber that was being unloaded from a forklift. Apparently, the man was adjusting some blocks on a floor near the forklift when the operator of the machine, who was unaware that the man was in the area, lowered the lumber. The victim was taken to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
The Tennessean  Mar. 6, 2001 

Man dies after forklift fall Santa Barbara, Calif. - 
A 57-year-old man died following a forklift accident. According to reports by the local police department, the man was driving a rough terrain forklift that was loaded with cinder blocks up a long driveway when, for an unknown reason, he lost control of the unit. The forklift fell 300 to 400 feet backward down the side of a mountain before coming to rest against several trees. Emergency personnel performed first aid and advanced life support on the man at the scene. The man was then transported to a nearby hospital, where he was pronounced dead. The accident is under investigation by Cal-OSHA.
News-Press Jan. 31, 2001

Forklift accident causes fire Manitowoc, Wis. - 
An employee of an aluminum foundry was driving a forklift with the mast raised and struck a gas line near the ceiling. A natural gas leak then caused a major fire that resulted in an estimated $2 million in damage to the building and the contents within the plant. Approximately 200 workers were evacuated from the plant, but none were injured. 
Herald Times Reporter  Dec. 14, 2000 

Forklift pins worker against building Conway, S.C. - 
A worker sustained major injuries in forklift accident. The employee had driven a forklift up a ramp at the rear of a building, and got off the forklift. The forklift then rolled down the ramp and pinned the employee to the corner of the building. According to a spokesperson for the local police, the worker sustained internal injuries as well as injuries to her arm and leg. The worker was listed in critical condition.
Sun News Dec. 6, 2000 

Forklift pins worker in Maryland Frederick, Md. -
A worker died after the forklift he had been driving drifted forward and pinned him against a dumpster. According to the local police, the accident occurred while the man was unloading items from the forklift into a dumpster.
Morning Herald  Dec. 19, 2000
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Robert David, forklift/palletizer operator, age 44, was fatally injured at about 3:15 p.m., on December 12, 1996, when the forklift he was operating struck a standpipe and overturned. He was crushed under the vehicle's falling object protective structure (FOPS). David had a total of 20 years mining experience, all with Corson Lime Company, the last 6 years as a forklift/palletizer operator. He had not received training in accordance with 30 CFR Part 48.

Tomas Mendez, vice president/plant manager, Corson Lime Company, notified MSHA at 3:40 p.m., on the day of the accident. An investigation was started the same day. The Corson Mine was an open pit, multiple bench, crushed stone operation with an associated mill. It was owned and operated by Corson Lime Company, and was located in Plymouth Meeting, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania. The principal operating official was Tomas Mendez. The quarry operated one, 9-hour shift a day, 5 days per week. The mill operated three, 8-hour shifts a day, 7 days per week. Ninety-nine persons were employed. Dolomite was drilled, blasted, and transported by truck to the mill where it was crushed, sized, and stockpiled. Milled rock was sold as aggregate and further processed through kilns into lime for industrial and agricultural use. The last regular inspection of this operation was conducted on October 31, 1996. Another inspection was conducted in conjunction with this investigation.

DESCRIPTION OF ACCIDENT 
On the day of the accident, Robert David, victim, reported for work at 7:00 a.m., his normal starting time. His regular duties were to load bagged lime onto pallets, and use the forklift to store the pallets in the warehouse or load them onto customer trucks. The shift had progressed normally until approximately 3:10 p.m., twenty minutes before the end of David's shift. At that time, Gerald Salvo, a co-worker, observed David drive the forklift to the parking lot by the warehouse. While driving the forklift back to the warehouse, David struck the 9 inch high standpipe and the unit overturned. Salvo found David about 3:20 p.m., pinned under the unit's FOPS with his feet facing away from the operator's cab. Salvo checked for vital signs, found none, and immediately summoned help. A call was placed to 911, and while the rescue squad was en route, Salvo used the other forklift from the warehouse to lift the overturned unit off of David. The rescue squad arrived a short time later and was unsuccessful in their attempts to resuscitate David. After the accident, David's personal vehicle was found in the parking lot with both the hood and trunk open and its engine running.

CONCLUSION
The primary cause of the accident was the failure to adequately mark or barricade the 9-inch high standpipe located in front of the fire hydrant. Possible contributing factors were obstructed visibility due to the forklift's mast channels and cross head, and the rainy weather conditions. Additionally, the forklift may have been traveling too fast for conditions. Contributing to the severity of the accident were the lack of a company policy requiring forklift operators to wear seatbelts, and the victim's failure to wear the provided seatbelt.
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Death on the Roads of Male': Act before the roads take up the lives of more of our beloved ones

By: Nizam
The New Cemetery of Male’ and the road leading to the cemetery were crowded and filled with mourners, curious people and shocked crowds. The sheer numbers of people made it seem more like a pilgrimage to a holy place than mourners in a funeral. The faces were grim and the atmosphere was morbid. There was tension and there was sadness. Boys and girls, men and women – people of all ages were there, showing subdued faces. Even though it was around half past two and extremely hot, the crowd didn’t seem to feel it. What was more important was to see the face of Thobeela Moosa, the girl who had died suddenly and almost instantly on Ameenee Magu on that fateful Monday 16 of July. It did not matter that most people in the crowd did not know her. They were paying tribute to the young, active and lively student who was no longer alive. She had died about four hours ago in a terrible road accident. All her hopes, all her dreams and all her aspirations and in fact her very life were robbed from her within a few agonizing minutes. At 21 years of age, when her whole life was ahead of her, it was no longer hers. 
Eyewitnesses say that the forklift, which hit Thobeela, practically ate her up. The forklift was driven at 15 km per hour when the speed limit for such vehicles is 10 km per hour. Earlier this year, another vehicle, this time a lorry, driven again by an expatriate, hit and killed a 20 year-old young man in Thilafushi Island in another fateful and violent accident. Unfortunately, road accidents are becoming a very common thing on the roads of Male’. Some of these accidents are fatal, and almost all accident causes considerable damage and injuries. Why do the roads of our capital kill our young people and injure them? Why has the roads, a necessity in life, become a threat? Why do all these accidents occur? All accidents or at least most of those occur because one or both parties involved are at fault. Rules and regulations have been formulated and put into action for our own good. If we don’t obey them, it’s no wonder that we’re in trouble. Whenever we go out onto the roads it’s not only ourselves we should consider but we have to consider everybody who is out on the roads. And, even though we don’t consider it as important, we must also check the condition of the vehicle that we use. In the case of Thobeela, rumors say that the brakes of the forklift didn’t work as well as it should which is rumored to be the reason why the driver wasn’t able to stop the vehicle in time.

If the forklift had been checked before it ventured out on to the road, the life of the young girl could perhaps have been saved.

We also have to ask the question do we drive with or without a licence? The expatriate lorry driver in Thilafushi obviously did not have such a document. And some Maldivians too drive and ride without the necessary permit.

Speeding is another of our vices. Many accidents occur due to speeding. We’re unable to stop our vehicles in time because we drive and ride our vehicles too fast. When we speed, do we consider that the furthest point is just 2 km away? Or do we speed to reach any particular destination, in the first place? I think most of us speed just for the sake of speeding. I couldn’t think of any reason for us to speed in this tiny island of ours other than showing off.

There is also our fondness and sometimes manic obsession to overtake other vehicles. Most drivers and riders feel that they’re the only ones in a hurry, and a driver with a moderate speed should be overtaken. And they overtake, and in the process, they sometimes cause accidents. Isn’t it better to go at a moderate speed and be safe or try to take a risk and meet an accident, which might damage your vehicle and injure you?

We should also ask ourselves why we have to import expatriate drivers? Our own people are creating havoc on the roads, and as if this is not enough, we have to import these expatriates who are having their share. They come here and blame the school we adore respect and cherish (Majeediyya), call our people lazy (an expatriate calls Maldivians lazy) and now they have to even kill our young people on the roads due to their carelessness and irresponsibility.

We have to respect our traffic rules and regulations and understand that they’ve been made for our benefit. We have to check our vehicles and see that they won’t hurt us or anyone else. We have to disallow expatriates from driving as a job. We must understand that we share roads used by countless others and they should be respected. We are the only people who can help ourselves and we must do that before the roads take up the lives of more of our beloved ones.
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Construction worker killed in accident
05/13/2003
A construction worker was killed on Monday in an industrial accident in Kingston. Kingston police said Neil Metcalf, 62, of Stillwater, died when a 12-foot steel I-beam fell on him. The accident occurred at the site of the former Mack Truck Co. building, 135 S. Wyoming Ave., at 1:06 p.m. The building is being renovated for new occupancy. Police said Metcalf died after the I-beam he was welding shifted and fell, striking him in the face and chest. The I-beam was being placed over a doorway approximately 12 feet high and was being held by a forklift. Police said one side of the I-beam was welded, and the weld broke lose, causing the beam to fall on Metcalf, who was on a ladder. Metcalf was transported by Kingston Emergency Medical Services personnel to Wilkes-Barre General Hospital, where he later died from the injuries. Coroner Dr. George Hudock performed an autopsy at 6:15 p.m. and ruled that Metcalf died from multiple traumatic injuries. Police are not filing any charges and the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration has been called to investigate
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Police investigate death of S.J. recycling plant workerBy the Mercury NewsPolice are investigating the death early Wednesday of a woman crushed by a forklift at a recycling center where she worked. But officials say it appears to have been accidental. The coroner's office identified the woman as Carmen Beltran, 34, of San Jose. She was struck about 4:25 a.m. by a forklift driven by a fellow employee in the GreenTeam of San Jose recycling warehouse at 525 Charles St., said San Jose police Sgt. Steve Dixon. The driver, whom police would not identify, had a load of material and apparently did not see Beltran as she walked down a corridor, Dixon said. ``He had some bales of recycled material on the front of the forklift that apparently blocked his view,'' Dixon said. ``It just looked like he didn't see anybody there. Nothing so far makes it look like anything other than an accident.''
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Forklift driver hurt in warehouse
KEARNY - A forklift driver was hospitalized yesterday after being pinned against metal shelving in a warehouse, according to police reports. Richard Howell, 35, of Newark, was driving a forklift at Uncommon Carrier on Hackensack Avenue in the River Terminal at 12:54 p.m. when he got too close to metal shelving and his hip became pinned between the shelving and the forklift, reports said. Howell complained of pain in his hip and the Kearny Volunteer Emergency Squad transported him to University Hospital in Newark for treatment. His injuries did not appear to be serious, reports said
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UPDATE BOMBARDIER INC. FINED $225,000 FOR HEALTH AND SAFETY VIOLATIONS
Bombardier was fined $225,000 on April 9, 2003, for three violations of the Occupational Health and Safety Act that resulted in a serious leg injury to an employee. On Aug. 24, 2001, a forklift operator was in the process of transporting compressed gas cylinders when a cylinder struck the ramp of a rack that was attached to a forklift. The ramp struck the worker below the right knee. A Ministry of Labour investigation revealed the worker had not been sufficiently trained in a safe procedure for moving cylinders and that following the accident the worker drove himself from the plant to the hospital. The accident occurred in Bombardier's plant on Montreal Street in Thunder Bay. Following a four-day trial, Bombardier was found guilty, as an employer, of: failing to ensure cylinders for compressed gas were moved in a manner that did not endanger the safety of the worker, as required by Section 45 of the regulations for industrial establishments. This was contrary to Section 25(1)(c) of the act; failing to provide the worker with information, instruction and supervision on the safe movement of the compressed gas cylinders. This was contrary to Section 25(2)(a) of the act; and failing to take the reasonable precaution of providing appropriate medical attention to the injured worker at the workplace, and/or failing to provide transportation for the injured worker to a hospital. This was contrary to Section 25(2)(h) of the act. Justice of the Peace Gordon Buterin, of the Ontario Court of Justice in Thunder Bay, fined the company $125,000 on the first count and $50,000 on each of the second and third counts. A supervisor was found guilty of failing to take the reasonable precaution of providing appropriate medical attention to the injured worker and/or failing to provide transportation for the injured worker to a hospital. This was contrary to Section 27(2)(c) of the act. Justice of the Peace Buterin fined the supervisor $5,000. In addition, the court imposed a 25-per-cent victim fine surcharge on the fines against the company and supervisor, as required by the Provincial Offences Act.
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Forklift injures worker at coffin sales company
An employee at a coffin sales company was critically injured when a forklift fell on top of him Monday morning. Hallandale Beach police spokesman Andrew Casper said police received a call at about 11 a.m. Monday and was told a man was trapped under a manual forklift. The incident occurred inside Cardinal Casket Sales on Northwest Sixth Avenue. Police had not released the victim's name as of late Monday. He was described as being about 19 years old. Casper said the victim was transported to Memorial Regional Hospital in Hollywood with head injuries and was listed in critical condition.
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Man critical following accident
Friday, March 28, 2003 NEWS staff report
Shelbyville Police on Thursday afternoon investigated a work-related accident that caused an Indianapolis man to be airlifted to a hospital for serious injuries. Ralph D. Butrum, 31, was flown by Lifeline Helicopter to Methodist Hospital following a forklift accident at Sparks Automotive Sales, 311 Habig St. According to the police report, Butrum, who is not employed with Sparks, had gone to work with a friend, Ronald D. Orebaugh, 43, also of Indianapolis. The two were attempting to move an engine cradle they had taken out of a Dodge Neon when the accident occurred, around 3:47 p.m. Orebaugh said at one point Butrum had been sitting on the back guard of the forks in order to steady the cradle. According to the report, Orebaugh looked away for a moment to reach for his sandwich, and when he looked back, both Butrum and the engine cradle were gone. He almost drove over Butrum, but stopped the forklift in time, Orebaugh told police. He found Butrum on the floor with a pool of blood under his head. Medics transported Butrum to Major Hospital. He was later transferred to Methodist Hospital for skull fractures on both sides of his head, and broken ribs, vertebrae and pelvis. Staff at Methodist told local paramedic Tom Laughlin that Butrum is in critical condition, but he is expected to live. Shelbyville Police administered sobriety tests; Orebaugh tested 0.062 on the portable breath test. Drug and alcohol testing also is being performed at the Indiana State Police Lab. Orebaugh admitted he smoked marijuana and drank beer and whiskey the night before the accident, according to the report
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Forklift operator dies in warehouse accident
Thursday, March 27, 2003
SANTA FE SPRINGS -- A 40- year-old Hawthorne man was killed Wednesday after he was pinned by a forklift he was operating when the machine overturned on top of him at a warehouse here, officials said. Authorities were withholding the victim's name until his relatives could be notified. The victim was employed by Triangle Network. The accident happened shortly before 11:25 p.m. at a company at 12816 Shoemaker Ave. Whittier police were called following the accident. Investigators from Cal-OSHA were investigating the cause of the accident, said Dean Fryer, Cal-OSHA spokesman. "We're looking at the forklift to see if there were any mechanical malfunctions or if any safety procedures were not followed,' Fryer said
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County trucker killed in fork lift accident
March 06, 2003
A truck driver died after being struck by a forklift at an industrial warehouse Thursday morning. Joseph Beck, 59, of Oakdale, died of torso injuries in what the Allegheny County Coroner's Office said was an accident. Beck, a driver for PGT Trucking in Monaca, was making a stop at the Galv Tech Industrial warehouse in Pittsburgh when he was struck just before 7 a.m., authorities said. Officials at Galv Tech, a steel galvanizing firm, didn't immediately return calls for comment. The federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration was investigating.
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Lumber falls off forklift, pinning man
A Prunedale man was seriously injured Monday when a 2,000-pound load of lumber slipped off a forklift and crushed his legs. Robert Bennett, 62, was helping unload a shipment of lumber from a railcar onto his truck in the 11000 block of Commercial Parkway in Castroville. The load slipped through the forks of the lift and pinned Bennett against a truck, said Mike Vindhurst, division chief for the North County Fire District. Fire officials said the forklift operator used the machine to lift the load from the injured man. Bennett was taken by helicopter to San Jose Medical Center, where he was listed in critical condition, a nursing supervisor said Tuesday
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BNFL's compactor shut down
by R. Cathey Daniels Oak Ridger staff
Jeff Stevens, BNFL project general manager, confirmed Wednesday that equipment being removed from Building K-31 at the K-25 site dropped from a forklift with enough force to crack a concrete floor in Building K-33. Super Compactor operations were shut down Tuesday and will remain so until investigations are complete, said Stevens. The container of pipe was headed to the BNFL compactor outside Building K-33. Stevens said no personnel were in the area and no injuries occurred. "We've notified DOE and we're investigating to see why the pipe did more damage than normal," said Stevens. "We'll look to see how we can empty those containers a little more carefully, and we will be reporting the results of our findings." Stevens noted that both the loading area and the area beneath the concrete floor were cordoned off during compactor operations. "Nothing actually went through the concrete floor," said Stevens. "The concrete was cracked with an opening of about 12 inches long and a couple of inches wide." The pipe, said Stevens, was 24 inches in diameter and about 10 feet in length. Frank Juan, DOE spokesman, said Wednesday that the cost of fixing the problem would be lower than $10,000. "It's pretty clear this kind of thing can happen when you're dealing with big equipment -- the main thing we'll look for is whether safety plans are in order." Stevens said BNFL's safety record is sound, with approximately 2.05 recorded incidents per 200,000 worker hours. Operations at BNFL were shut down Friday for a couple of days due to the increased safety alert issued by the federal government. BNFL Inc., the U.S. subsidiary of British Nuclear Fuels, is the Department of Energy's contractor for decontaminating and decommissioning three buildings at the former gaseous diffusion site.
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Accident kills man at City Hall work site
By Brent Flynn , Staff writer 02/08/2003
One man was killed and another was injured when a forklift backed into two workers at the Lewisville City Hall construction site on Wednesday. Duane Pope, 43, of Carrollton was pronounced dead at 1:30 p.m. at the 100 block of West Church Street. Pope was a supervisor for one of the subcontractors on the project, Dallas-based Don Burden & Associates. Chief Executive Officer Don Burden said Pope had been with the company for 1-1/2 years and was a "very nice guy." Pope was reportedly talking to Randy Davis of Invensys, another subcontractor on the project. An employee of Rowlett-based CMD Masonry, whose name is being withheld by authorities, was reportedly using a 10-ton industrial forklift to lift stone arches for use on the front of the building. He then lowered the boom and started backing up. When he backed away from the building over a curb and turned back to the right, he hit the two workers, officials said. Davis was hit on the right side and fell to his left, suffering five broken ribs. He was taken to the Medical Center of Lewisville and released later that day. The major question being asked by city officials and investigators after the accident is why the two men did not hear the forklift's back-up warning alarm. Invensys project manager Robert Mintor said that after speaking with Davis, he still does not know how the accident happened. "The only thing Randy has told me is he didn't hear or see anything," Mintor said. "He said he didn't have a clue what was going on until he was on the ground looking at the tire getting ready to roll over him. He said, 'First I was walking and talking, then this thing was on top of me.' He's emotionally very upset over what happened. They had just met, and (Pope) was showing him around the job site. He had only been there 10 minutes when it happened." Mike Talmont, Occupational Safety and Health Administration assistant area director, said that as far as he can tell, the warning alarm and horn on the forklift were functioning at the time of the accident. "The back-up alarm worked when I got out there and the horn worked, so I'm not sure why they didn't hear the back-up alarm," he said. "When I had them back up for me, it was working." Talmont said he is waiting to see additional documentation on the extent of the forklift operator's training before he can determine whether or not a safety violation was to blame for the death. "They are supposed to be trained and certified to operate the vehicle," he said. "I saw his card that was dated August 2002. I was asking for a little bit more documentation on what that training entailed." City of Lewisville spokesman James Kunke said police investigators are waiting for a toxicology report on the forklift operator and the deceased. A preliminary report is expected in mid to late next week. Commercial Structures and Interiors of Lewisville is the construction management company overseeing the building project. Company spokesman John Peveto issued a statement Wednesday about the accident "This is a very unfortunate accident that saddens us all," he said. Mayor Gene Carey expressed his condolences for Pope's family. "It was a tragic accident, and our prayers and thoughts go out to their families," he said. This was the second fatality associated with the construction of Lewisville's new city hall. Brian Keith Cummings, 27, of Howe, Texas, was killed on March 14, 2002 when he was caught between a large drill bit and a counter weight on the back side of a crane.
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Man killed in forklift collision
01/27/2003
PHOENIX (AP) -- A loaded forklift pierced the passenger side of a Jaguar, killing the driver instantly in a desolate area of northeast Scottsdale. It is unknown why the man lost control of his car Saturday. His car hopped a desert landscape median and collided broadside with a forklift. The identity of the Jaguar's driver was not known. The man was in his late teens or early 20s and his car had Arizona license plates, Scottsdale Officer Scott Reed said. The driver of the forklift, a 23-year old man employed by Peoria-based JLC Roofing, was not injured. There were no independent witnesses, and police do not
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