OSHA is investigating a fatality in which a worker at a marine terminal was struck by a forklift carrying a large load.
Paula Bellamy was working as a “slinger,” someone who guides a crane operator, for Ceres Marine Terminals in Portsmouth, VA.
Bellamy was standing on a pier and using a radio to guide a crane operator when a forklift driver nearby picked up steel bins.
Police say the forklift driver’s vision was obstructed by the bins carried on the front of the vehicle. As he moved the forklift forward, he struck Bellamy.
She was rushed to a local hospital where she was pronounced dead.
OSHA requires forklift drivers to travel in reverse if the load obstructs forward view.
This incident serves as a good reminder to workers why the OSHA rule exists.
For more on OSHA’s powered industrial truck standards, click here.
Originally Posted on: http://www.safetynewsalert.com/worker-struck-and-killed-by-forklift/
