The quarter-million dollar truck forklift catastrophe

What happens when you put two truck forklifts in the narrow aisle of a warehouse stocked with over $250,000 dollars in Russian vodka and cognac? It sounds like the beginning to a bad joke, but you're about to find out about one of the most catastrophic forklift accidents of all time.

How to destroy $250,000 dollars in liquor in less than 5 seconds

This quarter-million dollar truck forklift disaster occured in a Moscow warehouse which was stocked to the ceiling with cases of vodka and cognac.

The CCTV footage shows two truck forklift drivers struggling to manipulate within the narrow aisle. After a few seconds of slow driving, one driver hit the truck forklift accelerator a little too hard, jettisoning the lift backward into the warehouse racking, immediately compromising the structure and causing it to collapse into the adjacent racking, causing it to crumble as well. Hollywood couldn't have made a better scene of destruction.

Miraculously, both truck forklift drivers walked away without any injury. But the accident is believed to have cost the warehouse the equivalent of $250,000 US Dollars.

What can be learned?

Although this type of truck forklift disaster may seem somewhat rare, forklift accidents are actually quite common in industrial settings.

Forklift accidents that involve dropped objects are some of the most common, often resulting from objects or entire pallets falling off the forks, commonly known as the "bed" of the forklift. In many cases, falling objects can injure the operator of the forklift or individuals within proximity of the lift and result in property damage and excessive clean-up costs.

How to avoid it: Make sure the driver has a 360-degree view of the surrounding area and provide them with a "spotter," someone who’s there to supply an extra set of eyes and ears to help avoid potential catastrophe.

Another common problem related to forklift operation is the tipping or tumbling of the lift. Often due to faulty weight distribution in relation to the capacity of the forklift, many truck forklifts will tip under the weight of heavy cargo, especially when the cargo has been raised to a height above the lift. It’s important to note here: the distribution of weight is shifted dramatically with every inch the cargo travels above the lift.

How to avoid it: Make sure the driver is aware of the lift’s limitations and doesn’t exceed them simply to save time or avoid switching to a heavier lift.