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Cal/OSHA cites marine cargo handler in fatal forklift accident

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Cal/OSHA cites marine cargo handler in fatal forklift accident

The California Division of Occupational Safety and Health announced Tuesday it has issued $205,235 in six citations to marine cargo handler SSA Pacific Inc. for willful and serious safety violations following the investigation of a fatal forklift accident at the Port of San Diego this year, a second citation in two years for the cargo firm owned by Seattle-based SSA Marine Inc.

On Jan. 3, a longshoreman was driving a forklift into a transit shed when he collided with a concrete support column and was thrown from the forklift, dying of his injuries, according to a press statement.

Cal/OSHA’s investigation found that the employee was not wearing a seatbelt and that the forklift had multiple safety devices disabled, including a seatbelt warning buzzer and mast interlock system designed to disconnect power from the hydraulic lift when the operator is unseated, according to the statement.

The citations issued included four serious violations for the employer’s failure to ensure that forklift operators use seatbelts, properly maintain and inspect forklifts, ensure operators were effectively trained and for improperly altering forklift safety features. A general violation was also issued for the employer’s failure to establish and maintain an effective heat-illness prevention plan, according to the press statement. 

SSA Pacific was also issued a citation for a willful-serious violation, as the employer failed to ensure workers perform a forklift safety check at the beginning of each shift and report unsafe conditions, a violation the company was cited for in 2016 following an accident inspection at the Port of Long Beach. 

The incident in 2016 occurred when two workers improperly attempted to lift a 15-ton forklift from the hatch of a ship with a crane. One worker was hospitalized overnight for injuries to his ribs and lungs when he was pinned by the mast of the running forklift, according to the press statement.

“Forklift safety and training of operators must be taken seriously,” Cal/OSHA Chief Juliann Sum said in the press statement. “Employers must ensure that seatbelts are used and that safety devices such as warning systems to ensure seatbelt use are not altered.”

Officials with SSA Marine could not be immediately reached for comment.

 

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