The forklift hazard in the workplace is a serious concern. For anyone working with heavy machinery, getting injured on a forklift is no laughing matter.
Well, at least it shouldn’t be a laughing matter. And sometimes, watching forklift truck accidents can bring a little humour to a challenging situation. Unfortunately, forklift failure is all too common. As long as the forklift injuries aren’t too severe, that is.
Funny Fork Truck Fails
Here are some funny forklift truck accidents that show why operational safety is critical:
- Much Too Much
- Look First
- Forklifts on Forklifts
- It Pays to Slow Down
- Moving Out of Town
- Two Words: Seat Belt
- Don’t Try This
- Would Hate to be That Guy
- Bad Idea X10
- Nice Moves
- Burning desire
- Taking off
- It’s raining cans
These videos should make us laugh a little. But there’s a serious element to each one as well, as they all involve forklift accidents, forklift warehouse crashes, and other unfortunate moments in forklift history. Of course, if you are looking to operate your forklift and learn about UK regulations, at Angus Lift Trucks we provide forklift training courses in the UK on all types of forklifts in Leicestershire, Nottinghamshire, Northamptonshire, Birmingham, Warwickshire, Derbyshire, East & West Midlands.
Before examining some funny videos, it’s essential to know why forklift truck accidents happen.
Forklift Failure
According to the HSE statistics for 2023, over 914,000 workers suffer from work-related stress. That includes workers operating heavy machinery.
Before looking at a few forklift accident examples, there are a few important things we should keep in mind about lift truck fails and what causes them:
- Stressed operators
- Improper training
- Poorly maintained forklifts
- Bad accessories
- Driving too fast
- Improper technique
While not a comprehensive list, some of the worst forklift accidents happen for reasons such as these.
Forklift truck accident statistics in the UK show that nearly 1,300 individuals are hospitalised every year. Unfortunately, forklift truck accidents are not decreasing. Between forklift failure and operator mistakes, accidents such as forklift crashes in warehouses continue to happen.
It’s critical to understand why a forklift accident report might happen. And sometimes, the best way to understand is to watch a funny video.
Much Too Much
In this video, multiple things are going on, and they are all wrong. First, the forklift operator is carrying fragile objects at an awkward angle. Second, there is too much of the thing loaded onto the forklift. And third, it is not secured in any way to the forklift. This is, in essence, an accident waiting to happen.
It should come as no surprise that the glass tumbles onto the ground and shatters into millions of pieces. You should never expect things to end well with such a complete disregard for safety protocol and proper procedure.
It’s a good thing this unfortunate accident injured no one.
Burning desire
Working with a forklift requires a lot of care and attention to ensure things don’t go wrong. Add a roaring furnace into the mix, and you’ve got to be extra safe. This foundry worker got a little too casual when he there a bale of alliminium into the furnace, and the chemical reaction caused a mini-explosion. Full marks to the worker for staying calm while his cab lit up like a Christmas tree. This is one of those forklift fails that could have gone very wrong.
Look First
This forklift driver appears to do everything correctly at first. He rides in smoothly, picking up his items with great skill and efficiency. It’s always important to check the surroundings before operating a piece of heavy machinery.
And then he backs straight into the water trough. For a driver who appears to be so cautious at the beginning of this video, he needs reminding that one must look behind them before putting a forklift in reverse.
This accident could have easily been avoided. Had the forklift operator taken more time to check his surroundings, he likely would have made it through the day without getting caught on video doing something entirely foolish.
Forklifts on Forklifts
It might seem impossible to believe someone would be daft enough to pick up a forklift with another forklift. And yet, that’s what happens in this next submission to the funny forklift fails of recent years.
Where to begin with, how much is going on here? First of all, it seems ridiculous that the big forklift would need to lift the small forklift to reach the opening in the building. The big forklift has room left to extend, which would have been the safer thing in this situation.
The little forklift looks unstable from the moment the video starts. Incredibly, this intense scene damaged only property. Thankfully, it offers another example of why forklift safety is absolutely critical.
It Pays to Slow Down
Where can I begin with this reckless forklift driver? The driver is clearly paying no attention to his surroundings, and he’s driving the forklift way too fast.
It’s no wonder all those items come tumbling down in a rotten mess. To avoid this sort of forklift accident, it’s wise to slow down and secure all objects before moving.
It seems callous to hope willfully that someone loses their job on the spot. However, if I were the manager in this situation, I might find myself inclined to deliver a stern warning – at the very least – to this particular forklift operator.
This kind of reckless behaviour quickly endangers other warehouse workers, as well as anyone who might have the misfortune of passing by at the moment.
Moving Out of Town
Sometimes you make a mistake that you don’t recover from, no matter how hard you try. This particular mistake is the kind of thing I imagine ruins careers, reputations, and possibly entire lives. Not to be too hard on the forklift driver responsible, but this is dumb.
There’s no reason this type of accident should happen. This is the sort of mistake that lands you as an entry in the forklift truck accident statistics in the UK. Although this accident could have been avoided with a little bit of situational awareness, it seems that was the last thing on this driver’s mind.
Backing up a piece of heavy machinery requires skills and concentration. Backing up at certain speeds is pure foolishness and should not be done. When these rules are ignored, backing up into standing shelves full of inventory is only to be expected.
Two Words: Seat Belt
There’s a reason that people invented restraints when they came up with things like heavy machinery. Restraints keep you safe and healthy, and inside the vehicle you’re currently operating. Unless you want to end up like this sad sap, I highly recommend better safety measures.
We can take some comfort in knowing that this gentleman appears to be unscathed.
Nonetheless, staying properly strapped when you’re operating something as powerful as a forklift is always a good idea. The man in this video has a lot to be thankful for, chiefly that he didn’t end up pancaked on the concrete.
Don’t Try This
This is not a stunt. Even though it appears that this group of friends is having the time of their lives, the inherent danger in their carelessness is appalling.
Treating a piece of heavy equipment like a toy or a carnival ride is utter foolishness. There is a reason proper certification is needed to operate a forklift for work. Mitigating the idiocy of moments like this one is likely a top reason.
If you think it sounds fun to be thrown from a moving forklift like a potato sack, I would like you to consider the following word: decapitation. It might be the absolute worst thing that could happen in such a circumstance, but the possibility is there nonetheless. If you value your appendages where they are, I suggest you avoid stunts such as this one.
Would Hate to be That Guy
In a world filled with unfortunate accidents, this forklift mishap takes the cake. It almost feels wrong to laugh at the misfortune, but watching the entire warehouse collapse like dominos is undeniably hilarious.
This video shows the perfect storm of poor shelving units and careless forklift driving. To be fair to the young man operating the forklift, it appears that he barely touches the shelf before it tumbles to its doom. However, driving into a rack is always a bad idea, no matter how secure.
I just hope the gentlemen featured in this video left unharmed.
Bad Idea X10
I find it shocking that this needs to be said more than once, but a forklift is not a toy. It is not a ride. It is not safe to play on, no matter how confident you might feel.
It would be best if you never climbed atop a forklift as these individuals do, apparently for no significant purpose. It’s impossible to say for sure, but it seems they were only after a good time, which makes the whole situation worse.
A forklift operator should never give rides to individuals, especially untrained ones and have no safety equipment. Such carelessness is how inventory you ruin inventory and lose limbs.
Nice Moves
Once again, we find ourselves wondering why people insist on climbing atop a forklift while it’s in operation. There’s no reason for these people to cling to the back of the forklift as if they were somehow helping the operator.
We nearly witness a fatality as the overloaded forklift crashes to the ground. The man scurries out of the way just in time, barely avoiding what would have been a horrible accident. Indeed, it would have been quite the crushing blow.
Taking off
Some forklift truck accidents can be avoided with a little awareness. When you’re unloading from a truck, you should always know where the driver is. For starters, you need to make sure he’s behind you or standing too close to the cabin. Secondly, it helps if he’s not starting the truck and getting ready to leave the warehouse.
The forklift operator must have gotten a terrible fright when the truck moved off, and his forklift tilted. However, he also committed the cardinal sin of trying to jump out of a falling forklift, which could have turned this from a forklift failure into a forklift tragedy.
It’s raining cans
The best forklift fails are the ones where everyone escapes alive and lessons are learned. This one fits that bill because it’s a masterclass in why palettes are wrapped. These used beer cans were stacked way too high, which meant that trying to pull them down was always going to be a disaster. This guy definitely needs to get some forklift operating training.
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The Bottom Line: Forklifts Are Dangerous
Having examined some humorous forklift accidents, most of which turn out alright for the parties involved, it seems plain to see that forklifts are dangerous. A forklift truck is heavy equipment designed for a specific purpose.
And no, the purpose is not to give your friends a ride when you’re feeling a little tipsy. Finally, if you are looking to purchase a forklift, rent one, training courses on any forklift types, or repair services in the UK, do get in touch with our team at Angus Lift Trucks
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