Insufficiently Trained Forklift Driver Causes Fatal Accident

Case Overview

This case involves a fatal forklift accident in an industrial storage warehouse. The forklift driver was driving in an unsafe manner while unloading storage crates at a distribution center. The forklift driver backed up into the plaintiff loader and knocked him to the ground. The loader sustained a traumatic brain injury and was immediately rushed to the hospital. He subsequently succumbed to his injuries. It was discovered that forklift driver had only finished receiving his forklift operation training the week of the accident. It was alleged that the forklift driver did not receive sufficient training to operate the machinery.

Questions to the Nursing Home expert and their responses

Please describe your experience operating forklifts.

I am a certified trainer and supervisor of forklift operation, repairs, maintenance with 40 years of industrial and warehouse experience. I am certified with the National Center for Construction Education and Research and a CEF Certified Craft Instructor. I have extensive experience with heavy machinery, and I specialize in maintenance and safety specifically for Forklifts, DOT compliance, and aerial lifts. I have knowledge of the proper way to operate forklifts and have advised on similar cases.

About the expert

This expert has over 40 years of experience in the heavy machinery industry, specializing in maintenance and safety. He earned his AS in diesel mechanics training from the Texas State Technical Institute, before beginning his career in this field. Today, he is a certified CEF craft instructor NCCER heavy equipment instructor, DOT compliance trainer, audit preparer, and an industrial lift trucks and aerial lifts operator-trainer. This expert previously served as a heavy equipment and forklift mechanic at Southline Equipment Company and as a service advisor and manager at Thornton Ford. More recently, he was a truck account manager at Gulf Coast Area Ford, a forklift and heavy machinery safety instructor at Stellar Oilfield Rentals, and an adjunct instructor in truck and equipment maintenance at Brazosport College. Currently, he serves as the principal consultant at an OSHA compliance and heavy machinery maintenance consulting firm in Texas.