Inspection Detail

Inspection: 302761200 - Telxon Corporation

Inspection Information - Office: Wichita Area Office

Investigation Summary

Employees #1 and #2 were assigned to repair a communications line in a warehouse. Employee #1 spoke with the maintenance supervisor and arranged for equipment and operator support. A coworker was dispatched to get a forklift and manbasket, and to assist Employees #1 and #2 with their task. Once Employees #1 and #2 were in the manbasket, the coworker began steering the forklift toward the communication antenna and line. As he drove forward, the coworker inadvertently began to raise the tines of the forklift. Employee #1 became pinned between a ceiling beam and the top rail of the manbasket, sustaining fatal crushing injuries. Employee #2 ducked down into the manbasket, but his forearm also became caught between the ceiling and manbasket rail and sustained multiple contusions and abrasions. As the forklift continued forward, both workers were pulled from the manbasket and fell between 10 and 12 ft to the warehouse floor.

Keywords: IND TRK OPERATOR, TELECOM WORK, CAUGHT BETWEEN, CRUSHED, INDUSTRIAL TRUCK, MECH MAT HANDLING, CONTUSION, INATTENTION