Wheelchair Company Fined $150,000 for Fatal Forklift Incident

A crew of workers for a wheelchair company used a forklift to move a machine from a trailer. Two workers were standing in the trailer to guide and stabilize the machine. But the distance between the two forks of the forklift was too wide and the machine was lifted on just one fork. As the forklift operator began to lift the machine, the load tipped over and pinned one worker to the side of the trailer. He died. The company pleaded guilty to failing to ensure that materials or equipment were lifted or moved safely and that the material was transported so that it didn’t tip or fall. The court fined it $150,000 [Future Mobility Healthcare Inc., Govt. News Release, Jan. 15, 2015].