Sheila Arbury, RN, MPH, COHN-S Office of Occupational Health Nursing OSHA Case analysis of a young worker fatality: focus on prevention

Presenter Disclosures Sheila Arbury The following personal financial relationships with commercial interests relevant to this presentation existed during the past 12 months: No relationships to disclose

CASE: SCENARIO When: 2003 Who: 16-year-old male Where: Warehouse The circumstances: He was operating a forklift on a ramp when the forklift overturned, resulting in his death.

PHOTOGRAPH OF A FORKLIFT

DIAGRAM OF A FORKLIFT

INCIDENT LOCATION

OSHA VIOLATIONS Type Standard Serious Section 5(a)(1) of OSH Act General Duty Clause “Employers shall furnish to each of his employees employment and a place of employment that are free from recognized hazards that are causing or are likely to cause death or serious harm to his employees.”

OSHA VIOLATIONS Type Standard Serious (l)(1)(i) Powered Industrial Trucks The employer shall ensure that each powered industrial truck operator is competent to operate a powered industrial truck safely, as demonstrated by the successful completion of the training and evaluation specified in this paragraph (l).

OSHA VIOLATIONS Type Standard Serious (n)(7)(iii) Powered Industrial Trucks On all grades the load and load engaging means shall be tilted back if applicable, and raised only as far as necessary to clear the road surface.

OSHA VIOLATIONS Type Standard Other (p)(1) Powered Industrial Trucks If at any time a powered industrial truck is found to be in need of repair, defective or in any way unsafe, the truck shall be taken out of service until it has been restored to safe operating condition.

EMPLOYER VULNERABILITY No comprehensive safety and health program. No designated person in charge of workplace safety & health. Inadequate training and supervision of workers. Inadequate knowledge of equipment’s condition. Practice of leaving forklift keys in ignition. No policy prohibiting operation of forklift by workers less than 18 years of age.

YOUNG WORKER VULNERABILITY Limited experience with work in general. Limited knowledge/experience of specific workplace’s practices, hazards and procedures. Acts in imitation of adult worker actions. Reluctant to ask questions. Seeks competence and accomplishment. Sense of invulnerability.

EMPLOYER STRATEGIES Develop and apply to workplace comprehensive safety and health program. Select designated person to be in charge of workplace safety & health. Assess workplace for hazards and train workers in hazard recognition and prevention Monitor equipment’s condition and keep owner’s manual available in workplace. Keep forklift keys in locked storage with access limited to those workers licensed to use forklift.

EMPLOYER STRATEGIES FOR YOUNG WORKERS Know and comply with federal and state child labor laws. Provide and reinforce young worker training in workplace hazards and safety best practices. Provide attentive supervision of young workers. Encourage young workers to ask questions. Don’t assume that young workers “know how” but assume they need instruction and/or guidance.

OSHA Wage and Hour QUESTIONS?