OSHA Finds Forklift Crash at Logan Airport Could have been Prevented
In SIERA.AI’s weekly newsletter, we reported on the forklift crash that occurred at Logan Airport earlier this year. The deadly forklift crash resulted in a fatality and OSHA said the forklift crash could have been prevented. We’re going to take a deeper look into the forklift crash and analyze where a forklift safety system could have presented the accident from occurring.
Story of Forklift Accident at Logan Airport
An airport services technical employee was attempting to drive the forklift into a building when the forklift’s mast and forks hit the overhang and tipped the forklift over. As we have all seen reports, tip overs are one of the most common types of forklift accidents. This forklift crash was typical in a couple of ways.
- Tip over being a common type of forklift accident, and
- The forklift operator using bad judgement by hitting the overhang
Unfortunately, we talk to many forklift safety professionals and find that hitting overhangs, garage doors, any type of entrance… is also very common.
Solution: A forklift safety system can alert the driver before getting too close where an impact would occur. The forklift telemetry Dashboard would record the ‘almost a hit’ and further analysis can be done to take corrective action.
The Story Continues
The OSHA findings also revealed that the forklift operator was not wearing a seat belt. When the forklift tipped over, the operator fell and ended up under the forklift. If the forklift operator was wearing the seat belt, the body would have stayed in the seat and would have fallen safely with the forklift.
Solution: A forklift safety system includes a seat belt access control system. Meaning, that if the forklift operator does not have a seat belt on, the forklift will not start. It will also record the incident with the seat belt at all. It certainly is a great way to avoid a forklift crash.
Third Parties
The story then shares that the forklift operator was a contractor. We don’t care which word you want to use: contractor, seasonal worker, temporary worker, sub-contractor… it’s all the same. You do not work directly for the company and as a result are unfamiliar with the area and maybe even training on the forklift is a problem as well.
Solution: A forklift safety system acts as the extra set of eyes. When the forklift operator is working, the operator cannot be looking in other directions. Someone could be trying to cross behind the forklift or a worker could be a spotter and misses a second. A forklift safety system alerts the forklift driver when a person (or thing) gets too close to the forklift so they can stop what they are doing. This is a great way to allow the operator to work while the forklift safety system is checking every 60ms to ensure nobody or no object is within a danger zone.
Not Certified
In the story it also shared that the forklift operators were not certified and not trained. This is a serious problem as it violates OSHA compliance standards.
Solution: A forklift safety system manages the certificates ensuring only fully certified forklift operators to gain access to the forklift. If the driver is not certified or has an expired certificate, the forklift will not start. If the driver is not in the system because they don’t drive a forklift for a living, again it won’t start. If you are not certified to drive a particular Class of forklift, again the forklift will not start.
Contact Us!
Contact us today at sales@siera.ai or call us at (512) 817 0702.