Load-out ends tragically for stage worker in Milan, Italy

June 19, 2:40 AM, Milan, Italy - 34 year-old Egyptian stagehand Farouk Abd Elhamid Khoaled was killed during a load-out accident after the close of the KISS Monster Tour 2013 show at the Forum of Assago arena.  Reports vary by translation, but the general consensus was that three workers were operating either a fork lift / boom lift or a freight elevator (language translation web sites don't seem to agree on this) to move some scaffolding and crates to the loading dock.  The lift was overloaded and began to oscillate, pitching Farouk into the path of a shifting load where he was crushed.  One of  the other workers, 21, was transported to the hospital with serious injuries and the third was unharmed.

The original Italian news article can be found here:
www.lettera43.it/cronaca/forum-di-assago-morto-schiacciato-un-operaio_4367599465.htm

Load-out (strike) can be one of the most dangerous operating periods during an event,  People are tired, it's late at night, and everyone tends to be in a hurry to get it over-with.  This is the time to be one the look-out for ill-conceived operation of lifts, hoists, dollies, trucks, carts, and other machinery.  Don't let your guard down!

No More Forking Around

Featured Courtesy of: Compliance and Safety

Sources:
Bureau of Labor Statistics:  www.bls.gov/iif/oshcfoi1.htm
National Institute of Standards and Technology:  www.nist.gov/el/isd/ms/upload/PerMIS-09-Forklift-Safety-WhitePaper.pdf
Toolbox Topics:  www.toolboxtopics.com/Gen%20Idustry/Forklift%20Fatalities.htmwww.cs-inspected.com/images/forklift-1.pdf
WorkSafe British Columbia:   www2.worksafebc.com/PDFs/SafetyBulletins/StartSafe/Forklift/Tip1.pdf
Forklift Safety by Design:  www.safety-engineer.com/forklift.shtml
Example Safety Rules for Operation of Forklifts:  www.facilities.colostate.edu/files/forms/safety/CH-20.Forklift.trucks.pdf
OSHA:   http://search.usa.gov/search?affiliate=usdoloshapublicwebsite&query=fork+lift

Fork Lift Safety - There's an App for that

Select Equipment has launched Forklift Safety Pro, the first ever Forklift Daily Inspection Mobile Application for Apple’s iOS platform to run on iPhone, iPod, and iPad.  A version for Google’s Android operating system will be launched shortly.

The Forklift Safety Pro application allows lift truck operators to complete their daily or pre-shift inspections electronically using their iPhone or iPod mobile device.  The completed inspection reports are then transmitted electronically to the email address of your choosing, typically a supervisor or dedicated inspection form repository.


According to Dale Verseput, Select Equipment’s Director of Sales, “The daily and pre-shift inspection reports as required by OSHA under Section 1910.178(q)(7) really lend themselves to the portability of a mobile application.  With Forklift Safety Pro, the employer has an inspection report which is Date/Time Stamped, is secure and durable, and can be archived in a paperless format.”

Other features of the application include a daily safety question, a counter which lets the operator know how many days are left before he or she is required to be “re-certified”, and if needed, an OSHA incident report form, a service request form, and an unsafe vehicle reporting form.

Additional Resources and Safety Video:
http://theatresafetyblog.blogspot.com/2011/08/forklift-incident-drops-led-screen-on.html

Forklift Incident Drops LED Screen on Worker Killing Him

2011-08-08 - Thousand Oaks, California.  The owner of an LED video screen rental company was crushed and killed when the 1,500 pound screen fell from a fork lift while disassembling the unit after a show.  The incident occurred around 1:00 PM at Earl Warren Showgrounds after the weekend rodeo event.  Killed was 49 year old David Mann, owner of Jumbo Screen Company (www.jumboscreen.com).

This is an image of a similar 10' x 17' screen in use.  CalOSHA is investigating the incident and details of why the screen came loose from the fork lift are not available.  Other workers were able to lift the screen off of the victim before emergency crews could arrive, however, attempts to resuscitate the man were not successful.

Shown at right are workers surveying the damaged screen after emergency crews had transported Mr. Mann to a local hospital.

Notes for show workers:  Do NOT stand under heavy objects being lifted.  Be sufficiently far away from the object so that if they fall to the ground you will not be struck by it.  for vertically oriented objects, be outside of the height of the object so if it falls over you will not be crushed by it.  Secure your loads and double-check them.

OSHA Information regarding forklifts:
http://www.osha.gov/SLTC/poweredindustrialtrucks/index.html

Forklift Safety Guide (State of Illinois):
http://www2.illinoisbiz.biz/osha/PDF/Books/01%20Eng_Forklift.pdf

And a safety video (be patient - it starts out slow and builds to a really amazing ending):