A 64-year-old worker sustained life-changing injuries after an approximately 1.2-tonne crate fell from a forklift truck.
Due to restrictions during the COVID-19 pandemic, the manufacturing company sought to reduce the number of people on site and took responsibility for unloading the goods.
The task was not properly assessed, planned or supervised. As a result, the worker was positioned unsafely and the load was lifted in an unsafe manner, causing the crate to fall from the forklift truck and land on him, resulting in life-changing injuries.
An investigation by the HSE found that the company had failed to adequately plan the unloading operation.
Best practice guidance for reducing risk
Forklift operations should be properly planned, assessed and supervised to ensure loads can be moved safely and people are kept away from danger areas. People should be kept clear of areas where they could be struck by a falling load, and a safe system of work should be established before unloading begins.
Employers should ensure the forklift is suitable for the load and that loads are stable, secure and within the truck’s rated capacity. Only trained and authorised operators should carry out lifting operations.
Effective planning and supervision can help prevent unsafe lifting operations and reduce the risk of serious injury. The HSE states that the plan for any lifting operation must address the foreseeable risks involved in the work and identify the appropriate resources necessary for safe completion of the job.
For further information, you can read the HSE’s guidance on planning and organising lifting operations, here.
To read the full HSE story, click here.