Transport Malta issues report on fatal accident due to tipover of a forklift

Transport Malta has issued safety investigation into a fatal accident onboard the Maltese registered ro-ro cargo vessel FIDES in the port of Ravenna, Italy following the tipover of a forklift on 14 November 2014.

The Incident

On 14 November 2014, the Maltese registered ro-ro cargo motor vessel Fides, was alongside at Ravenna port, Italy. At about 1325 (LT)1 , a forklift, which was being operated by the bosun, flipped over in the garage deck.

As a result of the tipover, the bosun was fatally injured. Another crew member, who was also on the forklift at the time of the accident, escaped unharmed. Shore medical services arrived on the scene shortly after the accident and pronounced the crew member dead.

There were no other reported injuries due to the accident. The safety investigation concluded that the immediate cause of the accident was the loss of control of the forklift, resulting in the forklifts front and rear wheels on one side to approach the edge of the ramp, causing the forklift to tipover.

Findings

1. The immediate cause of the accident was considered to be the loss of control of the forklift going down one of the ramps of the vessel inside the enclosed cargo spaces.
2. Forklifts are considered to be one of the most dangerous pieces of equipment found at workplaces.
3. Forklifts have reduced stability in order to be effective and manoeuvrable.
4. The forklift tipped over as a result of compromised stability.
5. The forklift accelerating down one of the vessels ramps generated dynamic forces which caused the centre of gravity to shift out of the stability tetrahedron.
6. The front and rear wheels on one side went up the edge of the ramp, causing the forklift to tipover.
7. The safety investigation did not find evidence of a dedicated training regime and a related evaluation programme.
8. The brake system became inoperative when the forklifts engine shut down.
9. The forklift operator was unable to pull the emergency brake because the emergency brake button was small and hard to pull.
10. The forklift was not fitted with any body restrains.
11. The understanding of the problem, followed by the jumping off the forklift was inaccurate and that was based on an assessment carried out in a critical but short time.
12. Since none of the crew members had received any training to mitigate these emergencies, the above is suggestive that the emotional preferences chosen by the first crew member, who opted to take the initiative an jump off the forklift, were seen to be more efficient in achieving the intended goal of escaping the hazards
13. Fatigue was not considered to be a contributing factor to this accident.
14. The operator of the forklift at the time of the accident did not have any qualifications to operate the forklift; neither was he required to hold some form of licence to operate the equipment.
15. No anomalies were detected during the last inspection of the vehicle prior to the accident.

Read the report for further information by clicking here

Source & Image Credit: Transport Malta