EDMONTON – On Tuesday, Occupational Health and Safety officers will launch the first of three targeted inspection blitzes designed to improve workplace safety. The sites that are set to be inspected are those where forklifts are used.
In June of 2008, 16 year-old Mitchell Tanner was killed when the forklift he was on tipped, crushing him underneath. The fatal accident happened on just his second day of work at a St. Albert building centre.
"The most prevalent and common issues that I see is inexperience and operating with the forks elevated," said Roger Ethier, the Owner and Operator of Liftruc Training Institute of Canada. "A lot of people take for granted, or don’t know, that these weigh up to or more than five or six or seven cars.
"Even though this piece of equipment may look very innocuous, it’s a very powerful piece of equipment," said Thomas Lukaszuk, Alberta’s Minister of Employment and Immigration. "Operating this equipment requires extensive training, and it can be a lethal weapon if not used properly."
Tanner’s death was one of three fatalities and over 300 injuries caused by forklifts in 2008. Those numbers decreased in 2009 to one fatality and more than 200 disabling injuries.
The province is determined to bring those figures down even further, though.
"There is a very good possibility that one of our officers will be coming in and inspecting not only the forklift, but the training that comes along with usage of the forklift," said Lukaszuk, who compares this blitz to police targeting impaired drivers.
"We’re giving everybody a heads up, we’re telling you we’re coming to your shop, we will be inspecting. We expect every single employer in this province to comply and if we they don’t, we will deal with them accordingly."
If breaches are found, Lukaszuk said the severity of the breach will determine whether a stop work or stop use order will be issued, in addition to other potential ramifications.
In the spring and summer, inspectors will shift their focus to young workers and residential construction.
With files from Ryan Ellis.
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