Worker falls from tipping forklift.
Source
NIOSH 1997 Feb; :1-3
Abstract
A 45-year-old warehouse laborer died as a result of injuries sustained when he fell from a forklift which tipped forward. The forklift operator was attempting to lift a load which was too heavy for the forklift. After it first tipped forward , three coworkers got on the back of it to act as counterweight. It tipped forward again and the victim fell forward landing on his head and shoulder on a gravel surface. After the incident, he was bleeding from his nose and complained that his shoulder hurt. Emergency services were called and upon arrival transported the victim to the hospital where he later lost consciousness. He underwent surgery to relieve pressure from the brain. He never regained consciousness, was removed from a respirator 10 days later and died. The Nebraska Department of Labor investigator concluded that to prevent future similar occurrences: 1. Employers and employees must ensure that unauthorized personnel do not ride on forklifts. 2. Employers and employees must ensure that forklifts are operated in accordance with manufacturer's operating procedures and that only loads within the rated capacity of the forklift are handled. 3. Employers should consider implementing a spot inspection program to ensure all employees are complying with safety requirements and develop and enforce consequences for noncompliance.
Keywords
Region-7; Accident-analysis; Accident-prevention; Accidents; Injuries; Injury-prevention; Traumatic-injuries; Work-operations; Work-analysis; Work-areas; Work-performance; Work-practices; Safety-education; Safety-equipment; Safety-measures; Safety-monitoring; Protective-measures; Equipment-design; Equipment-operators; Safety-programs; Warehousing
Document Type
Field Studies; Fatality Assessment and Control Evaluation
Funding Type
Cooperative Agreement
NTIS Accession No.
PB2007-106560
Identifying No.
FACE-96NE045; Cooperative-Agreement-Number-U60-CCU-709864
Source Name
National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
Performing Organization
Nebraska Department of Labor
