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can anyone give me some assistance please??

Number of messages: 12

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missbee
Queensland, Australia

I am wondering if anyone can help me out.

One of our guys moved a table with the forklift. It lost balance and knocked another worker to the ground and the table crushed his leg.

The person who was at fault here, was the driver. He recommended to me that we get a sturdier table, as he explained on the accident report.. somehow I do not agree that this was the issue as to why the other worker got hurt.

Can you provide me with some tips or info about how I can enforce strict policy as to how, where and why the forklift is to be operated.

i dont agree with this situation and someone was actually at fault.. not the business.

thanks in advance for your help :)

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Miss-Bee

Posted 24 Oct 2007 10:36 AM

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dan_m
Ontario, Canada

Just off the top of my head, it is the operator who is at fault, for 2 reasons.  1)The operator failed to secure the load prior to moving the table.  2) 3m clearance zone around any raised load.  No pedestrian should be standing within this 3m area.  The operator should have made sure of this prior to moving the table.

If the operator was not trained, and therefore not authorized to use the forklift, then the company is at fault for failing to train the operator, and not disabling the forklift (removal of key) so no unauthorized person can drive it.  In basic terms, failing to provide safety for the employee aka protection for workers.

How, where and why the forklift is to be operated is what I teach in my classes, and these are full day courses.  Too much info to type here.

Story is...train your staff, and you should attend as well.  Maybe one of the officers of the company should attend the course as well.

As a side note, winter will soon be here in Canada, a time of year that I do not particularly care for.  A trip to Australia would be welcome.  Pay my fee, and expenses, and I shall be there lickety-split (Lol)

Modified 25 Oct 2007 11:34 AM
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missbee
Queensland, Australia

thanks for the tips.
this person who was operating the forklift, has a ticket. he was obviously not thinking very well..

and austalia is coming into summer.. uggh.. my least fav season. way to hot outdoors :s

are you a trainer?

-------------------------
Miss-Bee

Posted 25 Oct 2007 11:51 AM

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dan_m
Ontario, Canada

Yes, I am.  I am an independent trainer here in Canada.  Been training for 10 years now.

Trade you places.  I'll come down for the heat, and you can come here to enjoy :cough:cough: the snow, and -20C temperatures.

If the lad has his ticket, it is obviously the operators fault.  However, if the company has not set up lines in the warehouse separating vehicular traffic from pedestrain traffic, the company may still be at fault.  Without knowing the details, and seeing the incident scene, it is hard to say.

Modified 25 Oct 2007 12:44 AM
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missbee
Queensland, Australia

hmmm.. is that minus 20 celcius???
thats cold.. i have never seen snow.. ha ha ha..

you will come here3 and melt after being there. is it day time there?

sorry.. back on subject- there are no lines to seperate forklift operation and pedestrians. i strongly believe there should be, but as the workplace is a small area they use it all over the place..

i was thinking we could get a 'mechanical aid' to help the guys move items around without the need of the fork.
this would exclude big tables, cos they should be moved anyways.. especially when they have wheels... (puzzled?? i am too..)

can you suggest anywhere to gather some info about mechganical aids and lifters?

i cant seem to find much info.

so, am i driving you nuts yet?? ha ha ha...
i have much to learn, as i am slowing stepping into the roles of ohs rep, then maybe officer.. now that would be sweet.. instead of myu boring admin role.. lol..

Posted 25 Oct 2007 02:29 PM

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dan_m
Ontario, Canada

Yes, -20C. Not yet tho'. Got to wait til Jan/Feb. I am also 12-14 hours behind you in time.

What does your compaany do? That may help me steer you in the right direction? And how large is the warehouse?

Posted 25 Oct 2007 07:20 PM

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Dais
Victoria, Australia

RE: Supply of lifting equipment in Australia, try Reflex, or Team Systems. They stock light lifting equipment. Not forklifts.

Posted 9 Nov 2007 01:17 PM

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missbee
Queensland, Australia

sorry for delay in reply- we manufacturing steel trays for core samples.
our warehouse is rather tiny and too tight of space to be maneuvering a forklift all over the place..
hot weather her :s

Posted 9 Nov 2007 01:33 PM

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david_n
Kentucky, United States

I think you should call your local CLARK Dealer and request a copy of the Employers Guide to Material Handling Safety (#59-886-0410), a lot of good information in it to address your situation!

Posted 30 Nov 2007 00:21 AM

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stewart_p
Queensland, Australia

Missbee, with the recent legislative changes that took place on the 1st of July 2007 at which the Qld state government adopted, a company known as Ausfork did a series of presentations throughout Australia relating to these changes, it was very informative as they outlined various topics, chain of responsibility, correct load restraints, new licensing laws just to name a few. It may be in your best interest to try and attend one of these seminars to get a handle on the recent changes, perhaps develop a site forklift policy? and include guidelines relating to shifting a table. This will then have to be presented to all staff members in a training session.

Posted 30 Nov 2007 10:41 AM

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InventoryOps
Wisconsin, United States

The operator is at fault, but so is the business. Obviously I don't know what is really happening at this business, but in my experience these accidents occur because of unsafe activities that have historically been allowed to occur (by management). I think you'll find this is the actual root cause of most industrial accidents.
The accident occurred due to an operator driving with an unstable load. My guess is that this is not the first time an operator has driven with an unstable load, but operators probably aren't being disciplined for driving with unstable loads unless the load falls and hurts someone or causes damage.
So yes, the operator is at fault because he is operating a lift truck with and unstable load and his training should have clearly shown this to be unacceptable. However, if the company doesn't enforce safe operating procedures on a day-to-day basis (as most don't), they are responsible (I would actually say they are more responsible) for basically making unsafe activities an acceptable part of day-to-day operations. You need to deal with unsafe activities immediately as they are observed, not wait until someone gets hurt, then start pointing fingers.

Posted 1 Dec 2007 04:31 AM

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calvin_w
Victoria, Australia

ATTENTION MISS BEE Where have you been ???????????? In Australia there are Safety shows in QLD 2 to my knowledge (May / June 2007 at the exhibition centre Brisbane ) there will not be one this year as they doing alternateively with Perth 2008 but back in Qld 2009 Irecommend you and and some of your staff attend for and insight of whats going on. Or contact your state OH&S body they can help you and your company come up to speed. Also go to a web site type in OH&S lobooks i'ts an Australian site which produces logbooks some 38 kinds which will also help your company become more copliant and make you and your emplyees more safety conscious. You could go straight to logbooks.com.au

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every time you use it it's one less time that it can be used

Posted 11 Jan 2008 08:09 AM

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