Inspection Detail

Inspection: 306325580 - Fv Martin Trucking Co

Inspection Information - Office: Medford

Investigation Summary

On September 12, 2003, an employee, a truck driver was picking up a load of veneer at a mill. The forklift operator was transporting a unit of veneer out to be loaded onto the employee's semi trailer. The employee was standing on the driver's side, attempting to straighten a strop over the first unit of veneer already loaded. The forklift operator was backing parallel to the trailer on the driver's side with another load. The forklift operator said that he saw the employee at the side of the trailer working with a strap. The forklift operator continued to back towards the employee's location. The employee had his right arm lifted in the air trying to adjust a strap, blocking his view of the forklift. The employee said he did not hear the back-up alarm of the forklift as it approached and he did not know the forklift had returned with another load. It appeared that the forklift operator's attention may have been distracted while backing up. The forklift struck the employee on the right leg. The employee yelled to get the attention of the forklift operator. The forklift operator stopped the forklift and pulled it forward away from the employee. The employee fell to the ground with a compound fracture of the right lower leg. The employee was taken to a local hospital and admitted for medical treatment.

Keywords: FRACTURE, INDUSTRIAL TRUCK, STRUCK BY, BACKING UP, LEG, TRUCK DRIVER