03.12.2012

Forklift and Pallet fatality

A man died in Kruiningen, Southern Holland last week after the box he was using fell from the forks of a lift truck.

The man, 30, was working on the outside of an onion processing factory, and we understand was using a forklift and pallet with two boxes on the forks – one on top of the other - to gain access to the outside of the building.

When he moved the box tipped, causing him to fall to the ground, landing on his head. The box then landed on top of him.
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The double box on the forklift

A Vertikal.net reader based in the area, said: “There are a lot of onion processing companies in this area and this way of accessing heights is still very common (maybe everywhere in the world in this kind of companies). It is very sad that someone has to die before all these companies learn that this kind of access is a very dangerous one. Let's hope this unnecessary fatality opens their eyes.”

He also told us that the deceased leaves behind a wife and a young child with another due in two months.

Vertikal Comment

Using a forklift with a pallet or box is not uncommon in smaller industrial units and usually the users get away with it. However as this case shows, when it goes wrong the results are catastrophic. This is another totally unnecessary and tragic accident and will touch numerous lives in the lead up to Christmas.

The Netherlands is one of the most mature and sophisticated powered access markets in the world. It is possible to rent aerial lifts or aluminium scaffold towers on almost every street corner and yet… people still take such stupid short cuts.

The powered access market is far from mature or saturated - there is still much to be done.