A 24-year-old fork lift truck operator died after the lift truck he was operating over turned. The victim was operating the equipment in the storage yard of a wire mill. A length of wire became rapped around the front drive trans-axle, severing the hydraulic brake line. As he was returning to the plant with two empty wire spools the brakes failed on the truck. He was traveling down an incline and turned abruptly to avoid striking stored material. The sharp turn caused the truck to overturn. The victim tried to jump free but was struck by the truck's Roll Over Protective Structure (ROPS) of the truck. The MO FACE Investigator concluded that, in order to prevent similar occurrences, ALL employers should incorporate the following recommendations into their safety and health plans: (1) ensure that all forklift operators are aware of the hazards of attempting escape from equipment during overturns, and emphasize that operators remain inside the protection of the ROPS with seat belt fastened; (2) ensure that operators conduct pre- and post-shift vehicle inspections; (3) consider equipping vehicles with guarding that will protect vulnerable brake lines from incidental damage; (4) consider using forklift trucks equipped with pneumatic tires for use outside; (5) develop, implement and enforce a comprehensive safety program that includes, but is not limited to, training in hazard recognition and avoidance.
Fatality Assessment and Control Evaluation (FACE) Report for Missouri: Equipment Operator Dies Following Fork-Lift Truck Roll-Over
1997
6 pages
Report
Keine Angabe
Englisch
Public Health & Industrial Medicine , Industrial Safety Engineering , Environmental & Occupational Factors , Occupational safety and health , Accident investigations , Equipment operators , Fatalities , Forklifts , Rollover accidents , Motor vehicle accidents , Truck overturn accidents , Injuries , Accident analysis , Accident prevention , Missouri