Inspection Detail

Inspection: 125972000 - Norsk Pacific Ss Canada Ltd Dba Forest Terminals

Inspection Information - Office: High Hazard Unit - South

Investigation Summary

At approximately 8:50 a.m. on April 5, 2002, Employee #1, a marine clerk at a marine terminal, was marking cargo in the form of rolls of paper weighing 2.5 tons with dimensions of 71 inches in height and 55 inches in diameter. He was marking the rolls on the dock as they were discharged from the ship. After marking the rolls, he would signal the lift operators for pick-up. The operators would approach for pick-up once he stepped away. The industrial truck operator was using a Hyster lift, Model 120, Serial Number 0004D05090V, ID Number 97-629, equipped with clamp-like gear that would clamp around the girth of each roll. The lifts handled one roll at a time. Employee #1 measured 5.75 ft tall. His presence was eclipsed by the taller, wider roll that the operator was transporting. The lift operator approached a roll marked with a number 4 in black writing, hooked up, lifted the roll approximately 4 to 6 inches off the ground and proceeded to travel in a forward direction. Employee #1 had approached the same roll that had been hooked up for the purpose of marking it. Employee #1 was using white chalk to mark the rolls and had not marked this roll. As employee #1 was leaning slightly forward to read the shipping label on the roll, the roll suddenly started to move towards him, striking him on the left side of his forehead. He attempted to step back and was unable to retrieve his feet from under the roll and was knocked backwards, falling to the ground. He was dragged by the lift and was found lying on his back, with his left forearm approximately 2 to 3 ft further down from him. Employee #1 was hospitalized with an amputated arm.

Keywords: AMPUTATED, CAUGHT BY, INDUSTRIAL TRUCK, STRUCK BY, ARM