Inspection Detail

Inspection: 126075340 - P&O Cold Logistics

Inspection Information - Office: Long Beach District Office

Investigation Summary

At approximately 11:30 p.m. on October 27, 2004, Employee #1, a warehouse man who had worked at the site for 3 months, began to replenish stocks in Room Number 12 by operating a forklift. At approximately 11:55 p.m., Employee #1 exited Room Number 12 on the forklift and headed toward the office in the loading dock in cruising speed to park the forklift by the restroom and take a break. As he neared the restroom, he removed his foot from the deadman brake to stop the forklift, and his left foot stepped on the floor before it came to complete stop. When he realized the forklift was still moving, he tried to go back on the forklift. As he pulled up his left foot, the forklift collided with a metal post in front of the restroom, and his left foot was crushed between the metal post and the forklift. Employee #1 got off the forklift and tried to walk off the pain. A couple of minutes later, Employee #1 went in to the office to get help and shortly there after paramedics arrived at the site. They transported him to the Los Angeles County USC Medical Center, and he was transferred to Lakewood Regional Medical Center at approximately 8 p.m., where he was hospitalized and received surgery on his left foot. Employee #1's left toes were amputated as a result. The metal post was 39-in. high and 5-in. in diameter. The forklift was manufactured by Raymond and its number was R998. The Model Number and Serial Number were EASI R45TT- MB and DZ-C-04-29998, respectively. Its rating was 36 volts, and the forklift weighed 10218 lbs with the battery. The lift truck was checked by the Raymond Company after the accident and no malfunction was found. The accident was caused because the employee stepped off the forklift without waiting for it to come to complete stop.

Keywords: AMPUTATED, CAUGHT BETWEEN, INDUSTRIAL TRUCK, TOE, ANKLE, FOOT, INATTENTION