A 51-year-old man was killed in a warehouse forklift accident at a Massachusetts Stop & Shop distribution center last month. The man identified as Alphonse Ferent, died after a forklift fell on him. Ferent had been working on a loading dock and fell after a tractor trailer pulled away before employees were safely on the dock. Upon pulling off, a forklift that was being used in unloading merchandise from the trailer, fell from the truck landing on top of Ferent.
Although 9-1-1 had been dispatched and first responders provided first aid, Ferent was pronounced dead after arriving at a local hospital.
The Massachusetts Coalition for Occupational Safety & Health (MassCOSH) condemned the death of Ferent calling it “tragic and needless.” MassCOSH also noted that the incident is the 21st forklift-related death in New England since 2007.
Relates: Forklift Operations Training
According to a report in The Boston Globe, an OSHA spokesman stated that the agency will be investigating the accident to determine if any workplace safety standards were violated. This forklift accident is the second incident at the Stop & Shop distribution since the start of the year.
Though it’s far too soon to say that this incident is anything but a tragic accident, it’s worth repeating that proper training saves lives. We can’t stress enough that an investment in training is an investment in workers’ lives. Mr. Ferent is survived by his wife, daughter, and two grandchildren.
Via EHSToday
