C. Pedestrian Related Accidents
Operating the reach stacker in an environment that is not ergonomically designed.
Traveling forward with a load that blocks visibility. Walking or standing between a
machine and/or a load, a rack, stack, or other object. Operating a machine with riders
on the truck. Groundsmen or other personnel in “blind spots.” Moving a machine
without clearing all blind spots. Relying on a back-up alarm or flashing light and not
looking in the direction of travel. Failure to properly instruct and safeguard transients.
Relying on mirrors. Relying on cameras. Not ensuring the path of the machine’s
tailswing is clear.
Three things must coincide in order for a reach stacker / pedestrian accident
to occur.
1. The operator must fail to “look in the direction of and keep a clear view of the path
of travel.” Assuming the reach stacker / pedestrian contact was not intentional, the
operator may have relied on mirrors thus not having a completely clear view of the path
of travel, may have used an improper carry position thus blocking his view of the path
of travel, or simply may not have looked, instead relying on motion alarms, strobe
lights, or engine noise to alert pedestrians to the machine’s presence. The operator
must lean side to side and forward and back to clear all blind spots before putting the
reach stacker in motion.
2. The pedestrian must be located within an area in which reach stackers travel and fail
to keep a proper lookout. While the operator plays a large part in safe reach stacker
operation, safety can not be solely the operator’s responsibility. Pedestrians who work
in and around reach stackers have a responsibility to watch out for reach stacker travel
and stay clear of the reach stacker. Pedestrians should wear high visibility vests,
maintain eye contact with reach stacker operator at all times, and stay out of marked
reach stacker travel lanes, or stay within marked pedestrian lanes. Pedestrians must
never assume that the operator sees them, and must keep a proper lookout.
3. The employer must fail to either establish reach stacker / pedestrian lanes, or to
enforce the restrictions. Employers govern the activities of each and every person on
the work premises. Employers can not assume that operators nor pedestrians know the
dangers of the workplace.
The employer must therefore educate operators and pedestrians and take affirmative
steps to separate reach stacker travel from pedestrian travel. The employer, ultimately,
has the means at its disposal to prevent reach stacker / pedestrian accidents. Accidents
do not just happen, they are caused by someone. Likewise, safety does not just
happen, it is caused by someone.