Monday, 9 June 2014

Overview of forklift truck accidents

Scarcely a week goes by without details of another forklift truck accident.
In general, these can be categorised as:

  1. People hit by forklift truck.
  2. People nearby hit by load as it falls
  3. Drivers hit by overturning truck.

Of these, [1] and [2] are the most common.  Let's have a look at some examples:

Category1
ECO Plastics Ltd., a plastics recycling company was fined £17,761 (inc.costs) after a worker was stuck by a reversing forklift truck.

LP Foreman & Sons or Chelmsford was fined £7621 (inc. costs) on 1st April after a worker was hit be a forklift truck.

Tangerine Confectionery Ltd., of Blackpool were fined £129,538 (inc.costs) on 28 April 2014 after a forklift truck pierced a worker's foot.

Category 2
A forklift truck operator has been prosecuted on 8 May 2014 for safety failings after a teenager was seriously injured by a falling heater.

Hugh Logan Plant and Engineering Services Ltd was fined £16,000 and Falburn Engineering Ltd fined £10,000 after an accident when a person was hit during forklift truck lifting operations.

Category 3
Murfitts Industries Ltd, a rubber granual manufacturer of Lakenheath were fined nearly £28,000 (inc.costs) on 24th April after a forklift truck overturned.

The lessons are quite clear:

  • Keep forklift trucks and pedestrians apart
  • There is no reason why anyone should be "within range" during lifting operations.
  • Use only trained drivers
  • Minimise movements with the forks raised.
  • Use seatbelts if overturning is possible.

No comments:

Post a Comment