Abstract: At approximately 1:30 p.m. on Dec. 5, 1997, Employee #1 was injured while operating a forklift in the warehouse of a dried fruit and nut facility. The employer reported the accident to California State OSHA at 9:05 a.m. on Dec. 8, 1997. Employee #1 was putting a load of product into a line. Employee #1 was backing up the Caterpillar, 4350-lb-capacity forklift. Employee #1 turned his head to check the load for an instant when his forklift hit a previously stacked load. Employee #1's right hand had been placed on a vertical canopy bar to make it easier for his body position while backing up. His hand hit a wooden pallet positioned between the products. Employee #1 was seriously injured. This injury resulted in the amputation of the ring finger on his right hand. Employee #1 had worked for the employer since 1994. He had previously operated forklifts for two years and had been trained at a different location by the current employer. Employee #1 went to a forklift driving school in November 1997 and received his operator's license.