Subrogation of Workman s s Comp Claims Associated with Stand-Up Forklifts Ben T. Railsback, M.S., P.E. Forensic Engineer www.knottlab.com J. Brent Austin, Esq. Attorney at Law baustin@jbrentaustin.com The Austin Law Firm
Outline of Presentation 1. Introduction to Stand-Up Forklifts 2. Hazards Associated With Stand-Up Forklifts 3. Safety Engineering Analysis 4. Case Study #1 Horizontal Intrusion 5. Case Study #2 Foot Crush 6. Conclusions: Horizontal Intrusion Foot Crush
Introduction to Stand-Up Forklifts Reach and Counterbalanced Trucks Operator Compartment
Introduction to Stand-Up Forklifts Sit Down Operator Compartment
Introduction to Stand-Up Forklifts Straddle vs. Reach Trucks
Introduction to Stand-Up Forklifts Small Turning Radius of a Reach Truck
Introduction to Stand-Up Forklifts Counterbalanced Stand-Up
Introduction to Stand-Up Forklifts Video Clip of Counterbalance Stand-Up Small Turning Radius
Introduction to Stand-Up Forklifts Weight of Typical Stand-Up is 8,000 to 10,000 lbs
Hazards Associated With Stand-Up Forklifts Open Operator Compartment - Horizontal Intrusion - Lower Leg Crush Injury
Hazard of Horizontal Intrusion Open Operator Compartment
Hazard of Horizontal Intrusion Evolution of the Hazard Rack Heights Increase with Time
Hazard of Horizontal Intrusion Animation Clip of Horizontal Intrusion Event
Hazard of Horizontal Intrusion Mismatch Between Rack Height and Operator Compartment Height
Hazard of Horizontal Intrusion 30 Year History of Incidents
Hazard of Horizontal Intrusion Cumulative History of Incidents
Hazard of Lower Leg Injury Open Operator Compartment
Hazard of Lower Leg Injury Small Operator Compartment Platform
Hazard of Lower Leg Injury Deadman Pedal At Edge of Truck
Hazard of Lower Leg Injury Animation Clip - Lower Leg Crushing Injury Against Fixed Object
Hazard of Lower Leg Injury Significant Force
Hazard of Lower Leg Injury Significant Force
Hazard of Lower Leg Injury 30 Year History of Lower Leg Injury
Hazard of Lower Leg Injury Cumulative History of Lower Leg Injury
Safety Engineering Analysis 1. Eliminate the Hazard by Design 2. Reduce the Hazard through Design 3. Provide Safety Devices (Guards) 4. Provide Warnings 5. Provide Training, Instructions, Procedures 6. Provide Personal Protective Equipment
Safety Engineering Analysis 1. Design 2. Guard 3. Warn Simplified
Safety Engineering Analysis Forensic Engineering 1. Foreseeability/Awareness 2. Feasibility 3. Responsibility
Safety Engineering Analysis Guards Industry Awareness of Issue - Patents
Safety Engineering Analysis Industry Awareness Of Issue Industrial Truck Assoc. (ITA)
Safety Engineering Analysis Industry Awareness Of Issue Industrial Truck Assoc. (ITA)
Safety Engineering Analysis Guards Feasibility Video Clip - Testing of 3 rd Corner Post
Safety Engineering Analysis Guards Feasibility Video Clip Testing of Backrest Extension
Safety Engineering Analysis Guards Feasibility Video Clip Retrofit 4 th Corner Guard
Safety Engineering Analysis Guards Sit Down Forklifts Standard ROPS
Safety Engineering Analysis Guards New Design Sit Down Narrow Aisle With Posts
Safety Engineering Analysis Summary of Horizontal Intrusion Over 250 incidences of horizontal intrusion Over 100 serious injuries Over 14 fatalities A significant hazard A significant risk
Safety Engineering Analysis Industry Awareness Of Issue Industrial Truck Assoc. (ITA)
Safety Engineering Analysis Industry Awareness Of Issue Industrial Truck Assoc. (ITA)
Safety Engineering Analysis - Guards Governmental Awareness Of Doors OSHA Checklist
Safety Engineering Analysis - Guards Operator Compartment Door Intrusion Test Video Clip
Safety Engineering Analysis - Guards Operator Enclosure Freezer Cab
Safety Engineering Analysis Summary of Lower Limb Injury/Foot Crush Over 500 incidences of lower limb injury on trucks without doors Over 700 trucks equipped with doors no reported lower limb injuries
Case Study #1 Horizontal Intrusion Stand-Up Counterbalance Without Guarding
Case Study #1 Standard Racking System Above Operator Compartment
Case Study #1 Two Types of Steering Reverse Steering
Case Study #1 Two Types of Steering Forward Steering
Case Study #1 Operator s s Coat Witness Marks
Case Study #1 Operator s s Coat Witness Marks
Case Study #1 Witness Mark Alignment with Rack
Case Study #1 Truck and Rack Alignment with Guard
Case Study #1 Horizontal Intrusion Guard and Rack Alignment
Case Study #2 Foot Crush Injury Stand-up, Narrow Aisle, Reach Truck No Guarding
Case Study #2 Standard Racking
Case Study #2 4 th Corner Below Height of Racking 51 inches
Case Study #2 Standard Racking 58 inches
Case Study #2 Foot Crush Collision with Racking Post While Operator Ducks Operator s s Foot Comes Outside of Compartment
Conclusions Horizontal Intrusion Foot Crush Approximately 35 years of Injuries, Fatalities, Data At least 30 years of Litigation In 2007 A Manufacturer Changes Position A Manufacturer Releases New Product
Horizontal Intrusion Protection is Now Standard Equipment Stand-Up Counterbalance Truck with Third Post and Extended Backrest Conclusions
Conclusions New Equipment Designs Less Likely to Generate Foot Crush Injuries Sit Down Narrow Aisle Reach Truck
Thank You Subrogation of Workman s s Comp Claims Associated with Stand-Up Forklifts Ben T. Railsback, M.S., P.E. Forensic Engineer www.knottlab.com J. Brent Austin, Esq. Attorney at Law The Austin Law Firm