Forklift Accident Causes Death of Operator

Posted by: admin on March 8, 2012

Tragedy: A Metal Counterbalance Causes Forklift Death

We’ve talked time and time again about tragedy striking on the job – and how just one accident is all it takes to lead to death when operating a forklift.

In recent news, a young operator from Manchester, UK broke his skull when engineered on a forklift job. He was working at Heavy Engineering, a UK company based in Eccles. At the time of the accident, engineer Bruce Dempsey, only 25, was engaged in moving a press that was carried on a forklift truck.

Forklift Tragedy Can Happen at Anytime

When a tragedy like this occurs, forklift operators and trainers need to assess the causes for the accident, and determine who was at fault. In this particular situation, it was ruled that the UK company Dempsey worked for was not liable.

If a similar accident occurred in the United States, OSHA inspectors would visit the site, determine if willful or non-willful violations were occurring, and assess whether or not the proper forklift certification training was available to employees.

Online Forklift Certification is a Must

Online forklift certification is available for both employees looking to operate forklifts, as well as trainers. This kind of certification can happen online and it’s possible to complete it in a matter of an hour – including testing.

Hands-on training is also necessary for future forklift operators and forklift operator trainers.  However, sometimes accidents are going to happen regardless of the kind of training you have. It’s important both to respect and adhere strictly to the rules set forth by OSHA in operating forklifts and heavy machinery on the job.

Caution is Necessary

It’s also incredibly important to take extra caution at all times when operating a forklift. When it’s a matter of life or death, it’s simply not worth throwing caution to the wind. A hardhat won’t be enough to protect you if a metal counterbalance comes at you. Even if forklift operation is something you do on a daily basis, being wary is of the utmost importance.  Why wait?  Get started TODAY! www.CertifyMe.net