Fatality: Crew member struck by forklift during quayside operations
- Safety Flash
- Published on 29 April 2016
- Generated on 28 February 2026
- IMCA SF 11/16
- 2 minute read
A member has reported an incident in which a crew member was struck by a forklift truck during quayside operations, and suffered fatal injuries.
What happened?
The incident happened when a vessel crew member was tasked with unloading stores from a container on the quayside. He descended the vessel gangway and headed towards the containers situated close by. It was during this short excursion that the crew member was struck by a forklift and fatally injured.
The investigation is still ongoing, but initial findings have indicated the following as possible contributory factors:
- Blind spots within the forklift operators field of view from the operating cab.
- Obscured vision due to sunlight.
The incident site and directions of travel
Forklift operator’s ‘blind spot’
Our member noted the following:
- This tragedy is a stark reminder that when working near moving vehicles or heavy equipment, persons must remain in the operator’s full view.
- If you can’t see the operator, they won’t be able to see you.
- Remain vigilant at all times around ‘routine’ activities through exercising situational awareness.
- Don’t ‘assume you are safe’, ‘ensure you are safe’.
- During project mobilisation/demobilisation(s) and vessel port calls with/without project activity, focus must continue to be given to the following quayside arrangements:
- traffic management
- designated walkways/segregation from traffic
- crane operations
- landing and loading areas
- vehicle banksman (where required and assessed as not adding risk)
- storage areas
- parking areas
- quayside edge operations and pre-shift briefings/toolbox talks
Our member took the following actions:
- Circulated a safety notice to vessel crews via a scheduled ‘Time Out for Safety’ and to the industry via IMCA.
- Revisit and reassess mobilisation and demobilisation plans, procedures, practices and briefings in light of the above.
- Review all Project Hazard Identification & Risk Analysis (HIRA) and Vessel/Site Risk Assessments to ensure appropriate mitigation and controls are in place.
- Review effectiveness of toolbox talks, supervision and working practices on mobilisation sites.
Related Safety Flashes
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IMCA SF 04/07
10 May 2007
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