In an incident, two staff of a door fitting firm strapped a wooden crate to a forklift to go up and fix a motor on the wall for a rolling shutter. The person was lifted on the attachment made to forklift and when he turned to pick tools, the crate tipped, person fell by 5 m height after losing balance and received fracture injuries. He was operated upon. HSE investigated the incident, prosecuted the employer and imposed a fine of 1000 pounds and 1870 pounds for costs because of poor planning for work at height and violation of work at height regulations.
In many work places, it is common to see abuse of forklifts. They are used for double/triple/ quadruple riding, joy riding, to go to other departments on personal work, use forks for reaching an elevation instead of using ladder, etc. Employees also do not listen to safety supervisor's objection and it is distressing to watch that even in-charges also take it as normal and no other go option.
In a regional movie which I saw several years ago, the hero who is MD of a soft drink company (brand displayed is reputed) and his friend both stand on the forks with hands resting on the body and moving around. I do not understand how the company allowed such act in their premises, while permitting the film unit for shooting.
Fatalities, injuries like amputation due to trapping between moving fork and stationary mast, hit against, loss of control due to driving at speed, toppling while driving on inclined roads or at high speed or loose ground, etc were reported and one can find such case studies in internet. Still, people take it as one-off incident or of the attitude that it will not happen to them.
Safety at work place can be improved only when fellow employees question unsafe practices and force the violators to stop such acts.Good words and rules will have impact on those who listen but not on wishful violators.
http://www.hse.gov.uk/press/2012/rnn-em-173.htm?eban=rss-