HAUPPAUGE, NY – A 64-year-old man died after falling off a forklift at a Hauppauge business Friday afternoon, Suffolk Police said.
According to police, Anthony Capogna, of Miller Place, was working on the platform of a forklift over 10 feet high at Nature’s Answer, located at 85 Commerce Dr., when a second forklift bumped into the one he was standing on at about 2:50 p.m.
Capogna fell to the ground and suffered a head injury. He was transported to Stony Brook University Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
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The incident appears to be non-criminal, police said. An autopsy will be conducted by the Suffolk County Medical Examiner’s Office. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has been notified of the incident.
It's the third fatal accident involving a forklift on Long Island this year. In February, a 44-year-old man died after being struck by a forklift at a Montauk marina. In June, a 21-year-old man was killed when a forklift he was operating overturned at a Rocky Point business. Man falls to death off forklift on Long Island
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September 2, 2016 8:58 PM
By The Associated Press
HAUPPAUGE, N.Y. - (AP) -- Police are investigating the death of a man who fell off a forklift on Long Island.
The accident happened shortly before 3 p.m. Friday in Hauppauge.
Suffolk County police say 64-year-old Anthony Capogna was working on the platform of a forklift when a second forklift bumped into the one he was standing on.
Police say Capogna fell more than 10 feet and suffered a head injury. He was pronounced dead at Stony Brook University Hospital. The medical examiner's office will conduct an autopsy.
The federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration has been notified.
Here is a similar case where a worker killed after falling from an elevated forklift platform.
A 35-year-old warehouse worker died after falling 10 feet from an elevated forklift platform. On the day of the incident, the victim and a co-worker were adjusting warehouse shelving. The victim parked the forklift, elevated the platform to approximately 10 feet, walked out onto the platform and fell off the open end, landing on the cement floor. The victim was wearing a body harness; however, his lanyard was not connected to the anchor point on the forklift. The victim died eight days later.
To help prevent similar occurrences:
- Employees should use a personal fall arrest system when operating an elevated forklift platform. The system should have an anchorage, connectors, body harness and retractable lanyard connected to the appropriate anchor point.
- Workers should be tied into the anchor point on the cab.
- Forklift manufacturers should consider designing a barrier on the unsecured edge of the platform and including a lockout/tagout system so the machine will not lift unless the anchor is in use.
- Implement a safety plan based on a job hazard analysis.