Companies fined in 2011
Posted: May 18, 2012 Filed under: Forklift Equipment Safety, Forklift Operator Safety, Forklift Pedestrian Safety, Forklift Supervisor, General warehouse safety Leave a comment »WorkSafe BC’s 2011 penalty report is now available on this page: http://search.worksafebc.com/search/?sp-a=sp10024f66&sp-p2=any&sp-f=ISO-8859-1&sp-q=2011+enforcement&sp-k=.
What stands out is not only the stupidity of some of the employers (and employees sometimes) but also that safety violations are not confined to the smaller businesses but include some very large corporations who should know better. Check out the list and you will be amazed at the big names on there. These are companies with large health and safety committees, unions, safety policies, etc.
And don’t get lost in the money numbers or details, think about the people who got killed or hurt and how these incidents could have been prevented.
UK cargo firm fined over $200,000 for forklift accident
Posted: April 25, 2012 Filed under: Forklift Equipment Safety, Forklift Pedestrian Safety Leave a comment »This is an interesting one with a big fine. Truck (known as ”lorry” in the UK) drivers are always vulnerable when observing forklifts loading or unloading of their vehicles, but obviously even more so when the forklift has a faulty horn, no mirrors and broken warning lights.
There are two messages from this unfortunate accident that led to the truck driver losing his leg: ensure pedestrians (including visiting truck drivers) are kept a safe distance from operating forklifts, and maintain your forklifts.
For full details of this incident: http://www.shponline.co.uk/incourt-content/full/cargo-firm-fined-110-000-following-forklift-collision-trial
You can also train pedestrians on working safely around forklifts: http://www.martinsforklift.com/pedestrian%20safety.htm
BC Day of Mourning for lost workers April 28, 2012
Posted: April 7, 2012 Filed under: Forklift Operator Safety, Forklift Pedestrian Safety, General warehouse safety Leave a comment »It’s a sobering statistic that last year 142 BC workers lost their lives to work related injury or illness.
For more information on the day of mourning events on April 28, visit WorkSafe BC’s website:
http://www2.worksafebc.com/enews/120330/120330.htm
You can also download a poster for your workplace and get more information on which industries suffered the most.
LA County fined $810,000 in forklift accident
Posted: September 2, 2011 Filed under: Forklift Pedestrian Safety Leave a comment »This was quite a fine but read the story and see if you think they deserved it.
http://www.forkliftaction.com/news/newsdisplay.aspx?nwid=10065
Driving with forks raised on your forklift can be fatal
Posted: February 9, 2011 Filed under: Forklift Pedestrian Safety Leave a comment »I was recently in New Zealand, a country that takes forklift safety and training seriously. I was quite surprised therefore to see at a municipal refuse dump a forklift operator driving with his load and forks up at least 4 feet. This is in an area with the public walking around dumping their garbage. I am short so 4 feet could be quite lethal if I walked into the forks. Even for taller individuals forks can penetrate important parts of their bodies. So the message is if on foot beware the forklift and its forks, if you are the operator bring the forks down whenever you are travelling.
Forklift hard pedestrian soft
Posted: January 12, 2011 Filed under: Forklift Pedestrian Safety Leave a comment »We train forklift operators but rarely get the opportunity to train pedestrians around forklifts. While pedestrians might have the right of way that does not give them the right to be stupid and place themselves in danger. Remember you will always come off worse if you come into contact with a forklift so remember: stop, make eye contact and wait for the operator’s instructions.
