Pollution
Humain
Environnement
Economique

In a munitions factory, a forklift operator placed onto a train of trailers a total of 5 security crates containing pyrotechnic products (munitions loaded with tolite (TNT)). In alignment, the crate of the last trailer fell around 11:40 am into the ditch. The operator noticed its absence upon arriving at the destination. The damaged crate was lifted, no items had been disturbed; an item-by-item inspection was carried out.

Oscillation of the final trailer caused the fall. The trailer flatbeds were too small compared to the transport crates and were not equipped with a system of stops or straps to hold the crates in place. The operator reminded forklift operators to monitor oscillations and slow the vehicles where the floor had irregularities. They were also reminded to prefer wide trains of trailers for long transport hauls and studied a (non-skid) pallet system replacement for the trailers.