A fatality occurred at a warehouse involving an employee taking a sample from a 500-gallon (4,500 pound) stainless steel Intermediate Bulk Container (IBC). Preliminary findings indicate the employee was working alone in an area with limited egress. The employee elevated the IBC approximately 18 inches using a forklift to take a sample from the bottom valve. The IBC was lifted from a side which did NOTengage the teeter bars and did NOT allow the forks to pass completely under the IBC due to an angle iron guard protecting the valve (see photos 1 & 2). It is believed the IBC came off the front of the forks, landed on two legs, tipped over, and fell onto the employee. CLICK HERE for the full alert (pdf).
