Welder Struck by Forklift

A worker driving an electric cart was run over and crushed by a forklift driver who could not see past his tall load.

The incident occurred at a concrete pipe manufacturing plant where the man worked as a maintenance welder. The man and a co-worker were travelling west in the electric cart with a load of oxyacetylene and electric arc welding units when a forklift travelling in the opposite direction turned into them. Both men in the cart were thrown to the ground. One received only cuts and bruises. The other man was run over and his torso was crushed. He was pronounced dead at the scene. Poor visibility was a significant factor in this incident. The electric cart had no warning flag to increase its visibility and a high load obscured the forklift driver’s view.

Protect yourself and those around you by ensuring you can see and be seen while operating motorized equipment including forklifts and electric carts. Drive forklifts with the forks as low to the ground as is safely possible and ensure electric carts are equipped with a warning flag to improve visibility. Speak to your employer about the installation of seatbelts and rollover protection in electric carts. If a collision occurs, rollover protection can protect both the driver and passenger.