OSHA Finds Lack of Training Among Causes of Forklift Operator’s Death
OSHA has fined Mitchell Industrial Tire Co. for $288,299 following a forklift operator's death due to safety violations.
- By Robert Yaniz Jr.
- Dec 10, 2024
A forklift operator's death in June 2024 at a tire distribution center in Elm Mott, Texas, has led to significant fines and citations against Mitchell Industrial Tire Co. Inc. A subsequent OSHA investigation revealed unsafe practices, including improper training and inadequate storage measures, contributed to the fatal incident.
According to a recent release, the operator was killed when a pallet loaded with industrial truck tires fell from a three-tier storage system. OSHA discovered the system was compromised due to damaged vertical supports and missing horizontal beam locks. Proper training and compliance could have prevented the incident, inspectors said.
Mitchell Industrial Tire Co. Inc. now faces $288,299 in proposed penalties for one willful and 11 serious violations. These include failure to train forklift operators adequately and storing unbanded pallets higher than 16 feet, a practice OSHA says violates workplace safety standards.
“Neglecting to train forklift operators properly can lead to devastating consequences, as seen at Mitchell Industrial Tire,” OSHA Area Director Timothy Minor in Fort Worth, Texas, said in a statement. “The company must comply with safety requirements to protect workers from the many hazards present in warehouses and manufacturing facilities, in line with industry best practices and federal regulations designed to prevent serious injuries and fatalities.”
Mitchell Industrial Tire Co. manufactures solid tires for material handling equipment at its Chattanooga, Tennessee, facility and operates three distribution centers nationwide. The company has 15 business days to comply with the citations, request a conference with OSHA, or contest the findings before an independent review commission.
About the Author
Robert Yaniz Jr. is the Content Editor of Occupational Health & Safety.