Vic: Better forklift design needed to reduce deaths: coroner

AAP General News (Australia)
02-11-2000
Vic: Better forklift design needed to reduce deaths: coroner

The Victorian coroner has urged industry to improve the design of forklifts, saying
fatal forklift accidents in that state alone have cost more than $100 million in claims
since 1986.

FRIEDRICH HINTERHOLZL (Pron: FREED-rick HINTER-holts-ll), 61, died when the forklift
he was driving tipped over, pinning and crushing his head under the roll-over protection
bars.

The accident occurred at the Australian Pacific Paper Products plant in the Melbourne
outer suburb of Dingley in September 1998.

The Coroner's Court was told Mr HINTERHOLZL either jump clear of the toppling vehicle
or had fallen with it.

Coroner GRAEME JOHNSTONE says Mr HINTERHOLZL's death shows the need for industry and
forklift manufacturers to join together to look at improving the design.

Mr JOHNSTONE found Mr HINTERHOLZL contributed to his own death by driving the forklift
with the masts raised.

He said the use of a seatbelt would have reduced the risk of injury.

AAP RTV cmc/er/msk/jn

KEYWORD: HINTERHOLZL (MELBOURNE)

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