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Forklift accidents kill three workers -- Jack MacDonald Three workers were killed in separate incidents as they operated or serviced forklifts. These three tragic deaths highlight the need for constant vigilance when working around this type of mobile equipment. In the first incident, a worker was trying to replace a cotter pin on a forklift mast. He placed his body between the forklift mast and the forklift frame so he could operate the controls. As he manipulated the mast control lever to align the pinholes he moved the control lever, releasing the mast. The mast suddenly shifted, trapping him in the bight area between the mast and frame. The worker later died as a result of internal injuries. The second incident was similar to the first. A mechanic climbed between the mast assembly and the operator's protective structure to reach the hydraulic equipment he was servicing. He entered without first turning off the key, disconnecting the battery, or blocking off the mast. While tightening parts of the hydraulic system he accidentally hit the tilt-mast control with his foot. The mast jumped backward, crushing him against an overhead guard extension on the frame. The company that owned the forklift had welded an unauthorized overhead guard extension to the frame. The worker died from internal injuries shortly after the accident. The third fatality involved two forklift operators. One operator had just dropped off a load of empty pallets with his forklift. He turned his forklift to pick up another load. He then drove his machine forward through a set of plastic curtains that separated the warehouse work areas. Meanwhile, another forklift operator was working on the other side of the curtain, standing on a forklift with his back to the curtain. As the first operator drove his machine through the curtain, one of the raised forks struck the other operator in the back, fatally injuring him. http://kappa.karo.com/pubs/newsletters/paw/paw4_5/fatals.asp No Responsibility accepted for the accuracy of this article |
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Weathersheal
Holdings of Winsford
in Cheshire were prosecuted following a fatal accident. An employee was
crushed by a number of full pallets which fell from a side loader lift
truck. There was failure to ensure safety by separation of pedestrians
from vehicle movements. The company was fined £60,000
plus £3,200 costs No Responsibility accepted for the accuracy of this article |
| Man killed in backhoe accident
Aaron Sands and Kelly Cryderman Elvio Pressacco, 50, was described by his family as
'probably the kindest, gentlest soul you'd ever want to meet.' A
case of mistaken hand signals has resulted in the accidental death of a
man working at a Kanata construction site, say police and witnesses. Coroner Dr. Guy Genier and officials from the Ministry of Labour were called. A death on a construction site automatically calls for an inquest. http://www.ottawacitizen.com/city/010111/5081464.html |
| Fooled by lesser-spotted fork-lift
A bird watcher traveled 100 miles to trace a rare bird - only to be taken by surprise. Sophia Hadi, 21, drove from her home in Leeds to an Asda store at Washington, Tyne and Wear, after a friend told her about a strange bird call she had heard. But when she got there she discovered that the noise was not a rare bird after all. The store had apparently changed the alarm on its fork-lift trucks to a tweeting sound after complaints about the noise. http://www.optechflt.com/horseplay.html
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| Youth Killed by Forklift : Death
Follows Paper Mill break-in Police have warned of the dangers of playing on industrial sites after a teenager was crushed to death by a forklift truck at Aylesford Paper Mill on Sunday night. Samuel Lambton, 17, of Hevercourt Road, Singlewell, Gravesend, was killed after being squashed against a roll of paper while in a warehouse on the Reedpack site in New Hythe Lane with 5 other youths from the Gravesend area. A post-mortem examination held on Wednesday by Home Office pathologist Dr. Peter Vanessa at Pembury Hospital showed that the teenager died after inhaling blood. He also had a fractured skull. The Coroner has been informed and an inquest will be held. Det. Sgt. Pat King, of Westmalting Police said that investigations were continuing. The 5 youths have all been interviewed and released. It is not yet known whether any criminal charges will be brought. Mr. King said: "Any sites where there is heavy machinery around pose hazards and are very dangerous places to play." The Health and Safety Executive was informed, but will not be investigating. A spokesman said: "These young men were old enough to take responsibility for themselves and they had broken in. It is not as though they were children." http://www.optechflt.com/obsvis.html No Responsibility accepted for the accuracy of this article |
| Un-Nappy Landing A farewell party for baby wear worker Karen Buckley nearly killed her as she fell from a forklift truck. Karen, 19, was dressed up in giant nappies [diapers] for her comedy send-off organised by wacky workmates. She was dumped into a basket and hoisted 14 feet high on the forklift. Frightened Karen panicked and toppled headfirst onto the concrete floor of the factory, and was unconscious for over an hour. Both wrists were also fractured and doctors said she could have died if her arms had not broken the fall. Karen was on the mend yesterday, but furious bosses at the Hellene Manufacturing Company were considering disciplinary proceedings against her workmates. http://www.optechflt.com/obsvis.html No No Responsibility accepted for the accuracy of this article |
| Man Beheaded At Abattoir by John Askill A man had his head sliced off in a horrific accident at an
Abaattoir yesterday. |
| Inquiry Over Man Hurt in
Forklift An investigation was underway at a Northampton firm today following an accident where a man was trapped in the cage of a forklift truck. The man was working in the warehouse at plastmo Profiles on the Molton Park Industrial Estate when the cage tipped over onto its side at about 11 am yesterday. Fire-fighters using their emergency tender used an air-powered saw to cut the man free before he was taken to Northampton General Hospital, to be treated for a broken arm and leg and shock. http://www.optechflt.com/pinched.html No Responsibility accepted for the accuracy of this Responsibility accepted for the accuracy of this article |
| Truck Trap Agony for Gary Factory worker Gary Brown was rushed to hospital in agony after a forklift truck trapped him by the testicles. Gary, 37, was operating a "pedestrian" forklift machine at a tile maker’s in Gateshead, Tyne, and Wear. As he stepped back, the blade of a second truck shot between his legs and pinned him to his machine. Gary, a married man, had an operation to repair a three-inch cut and suspected internal injuries. A hospital spokesman said last night that he was stable. Factory inspectors are investigating. http://www.optechflt.com/pinched.html No Responsibility accepted for the accuracy of this article |
| Death of Worker Shows Dangers of Unauthorised Modification
of Industrial Forklift Trucks The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has issued a safety warning against unauthorised modification of industrial forklift trucks following an incident in which a worker was crushed to death. The worker was employed by a Midwest company that fabricates material handling equipment for the road paving industry. In one job, when the end of a 10,000-pound silo had to be lifted, an eight-foot long boom was attached to the fork carriage of a forklift and used to raise the silo. The worker went underneath the fork carriage to measure the diameter of the silo. He was crushed when the 500-pound fork carriage and the 250-pound extension boom disengaged from the top truck carriage bar and fell on him. In a Hazard Information Bulletin, OSHA warned that attaching the eight-foot boom to lift the silo is a modification of the forklift which affects its capacity and safe operation. Modifications must have the prior written approval of the forklift manufacturer. Also, the OSHA forklift truck standard prohibits a worker from attempting to measure the diameter of the silo from under the fork carriage. The fork carriage attachment for the forklift has capacity ratings between 2,000 and 5,500 pounds. When the load of the silo was placed at the tip of the extended eight-foot boom, it may have exceeded the capacity of the attachment, causing it to jump off from the top truck carriage bar. Hazard Information Bulletins are issued to provide relevant information on unrecognised or misunderstood health hazards inadequacies of materials, devices, techniques, and safety engineering controls. The bulletins are initiated based on information provided by field staff, studies, reports and concerns expressed by safety and health professionals, employers, and the public. Copies may be obtained from OSHA area or regional offices and OSHA-funded state consultation projects. For further information on workplace safety and health issues, contact the call OSHA's Office of Information and Consumer Affairs at 202-219-8151. http://www.webcom.com/pathfndr/welcome.html |