Often times, companies will comply minimally with safety codes and regulations simply to pass safety inspections and avoid getting fined. However, if safety in the workplace is not a priority, there can be dire consequences.

Gary Merrington, 47, was killed last March after falling over 19 feet from some pallet rack at Sysco Guest Supply in North Carolina. Merrington was the warehouse supervisor and had been employed with the company for seven plus years.

The unfortunate death has resulted in a series of numerous violations for the company:
- Being elevated by a powered industrial truck, standing on the forks or an empty pallet” to retrieve products or access a pallet racking system
- Employees not being equipped with personal fall protection equipment
- Powered industrial truck instructor. The truck operator had not had his performance evaluated in over 3 years.
- Employee elevated a powered industrial truck 19 feet to the top of a storage rack and left the lift unattended with the forks elevated and the ignition switch in the on position

These violations carry serious fines, not to mention there could be lawsuits for negligence to follow. In the end, safety should always be #1 priority in the warehouse.

Source: Salisbury Post

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