Abstract
On October 19, 2001, a 31-year old male died from injuries sustained when he fell out of an unsecured telescoping rough terrain forklift scaffold platform. The victim was painting a bridge as part of a highway construction project. The scaffold platform was raised to approximately 12 feet. The scaffold was not secured to the forks of the forklift; the forklift tines were not in the platform sleeves and the platform was not secured to the back of the forks. The victim was not tied off to the platform. As the victim walked sideways on the work platform, it began to tip to the side, and the victim fell out of the platform onto the packed dirt under the bridge. The platform fell off the forklift, hit the ground, and rolled onto the victim. Emergency personnel were called, and the victim was taken to a local hospital where he died. Recommendations: 1. Employees must be trained in the procedures to safely perform a personnel lift using approved platforms and equipment specifically designed to support a scaffold platform. 2. Prior to each personnel lift with a rough terrain forklift, employers should ensure that a pre-lift meeting occurs to review appropriate requirements and procedures for safe work operation. 3. Employers should provide employees with a 100% fall protection system compatible with the work being performed, instruct employees in the proper use of the system and equipment, and ensure its use. 4. Employers should provide forklift operator training that complies with MIOSHA powered industrial truck (PIT) regulations, ensure that employees do not operate a PIT without supervision until the required training and evaluation has been successfully completed, and have a valid permit to operate a rough terrain forklift. MIOSHA has specific training requirements for operators of a rough terrain forklift being used to elevate employees. 5. Employers should design, develop, and implement a comprehensive safety program health and safety plan. 6. Employers should educate employees about the dangers of drug use and that working while under the drug's influence may impair their ability to recognize and respond appropriately to hazardous situations.
Keywords
Accident-analysis; Accident-potential; Accident-prevention; Accidents; Injuries; Injury-prevention; Safety-education; Safety-equipment; Safety-practices; Safety-measures; Traumatic-injuries; Region-5; Work-practices; Work-analysis; Work-environment; Work-performance; Occupational-accidents; Painters; Painting; Construction; Construction-industry; Construction-workers; Scaffolds; Road-construction; Training; Substance-abuse; Personal-protection; Personal-protective-equipment; Construction-equipment
