Forklift Operator Dies When Crushed between Forklift Overhead Guard and Mast, Washington

Washington Case Report: 12WA015
Release Date: January 22, 2018
The following report is the product of our Cooperative State partner and is presented here in its original unedited form from the state. The findings and conclusions in this report are those of the individual Cooperative State partner and do not necessarily reflect the views or policy of the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health.

SUMMARY

In May of 2012, a 61-year-old longshore worker operating a forklift died when he was crushed between a forklift’s mast and the operator’s cab overhead guard. The incident occurred when he left the forklift operator’s seat and climbed over the operator’s console and stood on the dash between the mast and the overhead guard so that he could presumably look into a bin elevated on the forklift’s forks. He did not turn off the forklift engine. As he was standing on the dash, his right foot moved backward and contacted the mast tilt control lever on the console. This caused the mast to tilt back, crushing his torso between the mast cross member and the overhead guard. Workers arrived and helped him down from the forklift and administered first aid. Fire department paramedics arrived in less than seven minutes. He was taken to a hospital where he died in the emergency room.

Forklift Operator Dies When Crushed between Forklift Overhead Guard and Mast, Washingtonpdf icon [PDF 1,300KB]