Inspection Detail

Inspection: 125968719 - Sports Authority

Inspection Information - Office: San Bernardino District Office

Investigation Summary

At approximately 11:25 a.m. on January 25, 2005, Employee #1, a stock picker operator, and Employee #2, an asset protection manager, were servicing a surveillance video camera which is located approximately 31 ft above the building's main entrance. Employee #1 and Employee #2 placed a stock picker (Crown, Model Number 3250H, Serial Number 1A262661) on the sidewalk with the forks pointed toward the building and the back end a couple of feet from the 4-in. curb. The sidewalk slopes away from the building. Tethered to the stock picker's platform, they positioned themselves in front of the camera. Unaware that the brakes remain released for 4 seconds to 8 seconds after they are requested at that height, and that only 33 percent of the braking force is then applied, Employee #1 took his foot off the brake pedal in order to apply the brake. As designed, the brake was not immediately and fully applied and the stock picker rolled down the slope. The back end of the stock picker went over the curb. The mast with its occupied platform at its top end swayed back and away from the building generating excessive stresses on the stock picker that it could not handle. As a result, the stock picker tipped over and landed on the parking lot pavement. Employee #1 suffered fractures and was hospitalized, and Employee #2 died later in the hospital.

Keywords: FRACTURE, BRAKE, ELEVATED WORK PLAT, OVERTURN