Pallets Loaded on Forklift Blocked Operator’s View & Caused Incident

A worker who was painting pallets in the company’s paint department began walking across the floor area to retrieve some paint when a forklift carrying a load of pallets struck him, injuring his leg and arm. The MOL found that when moving forward, the forklift operator couldn’t see the other worker because the pallets on the forks obstructed his view. The company pleaded guilty to failing to move materials in a way that wouldn’t endanger workers and was fined $50,000 [Woodbridge Pallet Ltd., Govt. News Release, Aug. 23, 2012]. (For a safety talk on use of forklifts, go to SafetySmart.com. Not a subscriber to SafetySmart’ Sign up for a free trial.)