Con-way Freight fined for forklift death
4/9/08

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The Truckers Report Merchandise

I worked at ConWay for 13 years.Forklift accidents were common.We had no deaths related to forklifts but a few injuries that required medical attention.I say about once a month someone would drive off the dock.We had forklift blades causing damage to other drivers on the dock and a few toes crushed by forklift tires.I don't think most of these accidents were caused by the drivers inability to operate the forklift but by the pace and the workload the drivers had to get done in short amount of time.If your rushed and pressed for time,your bound to make a mistake sometime whether it be on the dock or driving.But,under corporate mentality,productivity equals profits.Yes,they did train us to operate a forklift and recertify us but after that it was just load and unload as fast as possible and then go out and deliver and pickup in the same manner.At this pace I am suprized there have not been more accidents.You think that death regarding that lawsuit was something?How about this.A driver at one of ConWays terminals in NJ(Drivers at ConWay are also dockworkers)was operating a forklift.He lifted a pallet with the forklift,but the pallet was unstable.He reached through the cage to steady it with his arm and upper body.While doing so,he hit the lever that drops the forklift mast.He was decapitated.Left behind a wife and kids.CEO's,shareholders and profit drive ConWay.What they forgot is it's the driver that makes this possible and they seem to have forgotten this.Enough said.