Editor’s Note: In today’s Thursday Feature, we travel to exotic Singapore, where the lessons gleaned from a forklift accident can help protect drivers and pedestrians here in the US.
Singapore, the Southeast Asian island city-state located just south of Malaysia, has a reputation for being strict and conservative. Something as innocent as chewing gum or jaywalking is a serious crime there.
So perhaps it’s not surprising that a forklift driver was ordered to be jailed last week after he accidentally injured four people when a load of pipes he was lifting crashed into a double-decker bus.
On Friday, a Singapore court ordered that Zhang Xiang Guo, 37, be jailed for one week in connection with the April 12, 2013, accident that seriously injured one person and sent three other people to the hospital.
Just Doing His Job
Zhang, a Chinese national, was working for a company called New Funnels, which provides materials to marine companies working offshore. About 7:45 p.m. that night he was using his vehicle to lift three 40-foot-long steel pipes approximately 11 feet into the air.
Zhang had been using a co-worker, Muhammad Haikal Jelani, to help guide him because he was working near a public road, according to Deputy Public Prosecutor Zhang Hongchuan. But his spotter had walked away to sign off on some paperwork, so Zhang decided to proceed on his own.
That proved to be a terrible mistake.
On a Collision Course with Danger
Saravanasamy Senthilnathan, 29, an Indian national, was riding on the upper deck of the Number 225 bus along Tuas Road near Gul Circle, in Singapore, when suddenly the pipes Zhang had been lifting smashed through the glass windscreen.
The pipes struck Saravanasamy in the face, breaking a face bone, tearing his nose and eyelid and causing two puncture wounds in his head, as well as multiple injuries to his right cheek.
Three other men — Qiu Yu, 21, Win Ko Ko, 22, and Kang Boon Leng, 31 — sitting on the upper deck also were injured by the pipes.
Admits Negligence
Zhang admitted to investigators that he failed to check for oncoming vehicles before pulling his vehicle onto the public road. He saw the bus heading towards his forklift and honked his horn, but it was too late.
The driver of the bus slammed on the brakes, but not before the protruding metal pipes ripped through the left side of the upper deck, injuring the four men, the prosecutor said.
Saravanasamy was taken to a local hospital, where he underwent skin grafting. He also had to have “foreign glass bodies” removed from the puncture wounds in his head. He was hospitalized for a week and was off work for more than two months as a result of his injuries.
Pled Guilty But Still Appealing
Zhang, who pleaded guilty to one count of causing grievous injury to another person by performing a negligent act, also was forbidden from driving for one year.
He could have faced up to two years in prison and fines of up to $5,000.
His attorney, Chia Boon Teck, said Zhang plans to appeal the verdict. He was offered $15,000 bail pending the outcome of his appeal.
Dangers of Using Forklifts in Public Places
Laws regarding forklift accidents may not be as strict here as they are in Singapore — you probably won’t be imprisoned unless you intentionally injure somebody with your vehicle — but forklift operators and the companies they work for can be held liable in a civil suit involving a forklift injury.
Whether it’s a busy Singapore street or the parking lot of your business, forklift operators need to be extra careful when operating their vehicles where other people are present.
Forklifts are commonly used to offload pallets of materials from trucks, train cars and other delivery vehicles. Usually, this action is performed on private property, namely, the warehouse or materials yard.
But in some instances, due to extenuating circumstances, such as inadequate or non-existent delivery docks or setup for special events forklifts must be operated in publicly accessible places, such on sidewalks or sales floors, where you are likely to encounter the general public.
Know Your Responsibilities
If this is the case, make sure you are familiar with the local codes and ordinances regulating the use of public walkways and through ways. Violating local laws could result in fines, penalties or even imprisonment, not to mention bad public relations.
Given a forklift’s size, weight and potential for crushing injuries, operating one in any public area is extremely dangerous. Whenever possible, consider alternative solutions, such as less dangerous power jacks or hand jacks.
If you must use a forklift, minimize your risk and liability by always making sure you use rope lines, day-glow pylons or wooden horses to block off the area you will be working in. It’s a good idea to have a second employee, or “spotter” direct people away from the area, as well as a supervisor monitoring the work action. In fact, for some businesses, this is a requirement that could result in dismissal if not followed.
Whenever Possible, Don’t Use Forklift in Public Places
Scheduling times of use for forklifts that have to be in publicly accessible areas is also a good idea. Schedule forklift use in public areas during times when there are less likely to be pedestrians in the area, such as early morning or overnight.
Operating a forklift in a public place is risky and dangerous and should only be considered when there are no other alternatives. Use extraordinary safety methods and common sense so that you can reduce the risk of injury and limit your liability.
Employees using a forklift in a public area should operate with more care and at a slower pace than they would normally. To reduce liability, make sure the driver is fully trained and certified on forklift operation and that the records are up to date. While forklift drivers are not required to have a motor vehicle license, often a forklift operator’s license may be required for an employee to operate one.