Worker fell from goods basket attached to fork truck........

Working from heights is a hazard in our plants that is unique due to its mobility (it can be accomplished anywhere), and the variety of devices that can be used to accomplish the task (e.g., ladders, scaffolding, scissor lifts, etc.). Each device has its own hazards. The Aluminium Plant Safety Blog has posted incidents involving a fall from height where the worker was either not wearing fall protection or the fall protection device failed. Here is a recent incident emphasizing the need for fall protection when working from height.

A man aged in his 30's is being treated for a suspected broken hip after an industrial accident in Australia one day during the week of September 13, 2015.

Worksafe ACT says a worker at an aluminum fell from a goods basket attached to a forklift, around 7:45am.

Initial reports said the man fell five metres, but early investigations have revealed it was actually around two metres.

The man was taken to a local hospital in a stable condition.

Workplace safety inspectors are at the warehouse, investigating how the incident occurred and why.

The business was closed after the accident with a sign on the door saying it was "closed for stocktake" until.

The company refused to comment on the incident.

The Aluminium Plant Safety Blog hopes the injured worker recovers fully from his physical and mental injuries. The APSB has posted incident where a worker succumbed to his injuries from a fall of less distance than in this incident. Regardless plants should be in accordance with the local and federal laws regarding fall protection equipment at all times. There are too many incidents where plant personnel will forgo normal safety protocols because of time constraints and an incident results.

Also, the worker fell out of a “goods basket”. The APSB recommends only utilizing devices that are designed and engineered for workers. A “goods basket” may have been routinely used in this plant with no previous incidents. If that was indeed the case then the plant was operating under a false safety belief. Habits or practices that overtime have been thought to be safe but are actually not. They begin when a lack of knowledge transforms into a habit or a practice. Overtime practices are assumed to be safe. It is only after an incident resulting in an injury or death that the practice is found to actually be a hazard. The APSB editors shutter when we hear “it’s fine we never had an explosion”, “this is how we’ve always done it”, “that operator is an expert on how that machinery works”, etc. Those comments are given as replies to questions regarding current safety practices. Assumptions can injure and kill in our industry.

Occupational Safety& Heath Administration has some great information here.

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