We l l s & A s s oc i a t e s , L L P

200 prospect street

East Stroudsburg, pa 18301
We l l sl l p. c om

Employee Incident Report

Date March 23, 2019

Employee Manager
Name Lucy Ross Name Shana O’Hara
Title/position Forklift Operator Title/position Forklift Supervisor

Incident
Date Friday, March 22, 2019
Time 10:05 am
Location Wells & Associates Storage Warehouse A Section 18

Description of incident (if additional space is needed, use page 2)

While driving the forklift, Ms. Ross was operating the forklift at a reckless speed as well as used
poor judgment when assessing if her forklift could fit through the warehouse pathway. This caused
her to hit the right side of the warehouse shelves, resulting in all many of the shelves to fall.
Creating a big cleanup and many products to be damaged. See more on pg. 2

Employee explanation (if additional space is needed, use page 2)

“I was trying to be efficient in moving the products, so I was operating a medium speed. The
warehouse pathway was narrow, but I thought I could clear the path. When I misjudged my forklift
angle and ended up hitting the storage shelves it caused many of the shelves to fall. I then
quickly got off the forklift to avoid being crushed.”

Witnesses
Diana Neuman- Forklift Operator
Jason Waltz- Warehouse Worker
Brian Makuta- Warehouse Manager

Action to be taken
 Verbal warning  Probation  Dismissal
 Written warning  Suspension  Other
Explain rationale Although there are some issues with the layout of the warehouse, Ms. Ross
showed poor decision-making skills when she tried to fit through a path she could not make,
reckless forklift speed operation and her mistake resulted in a mass clean up and caused hundreds
of product and warehouse damage.
By signing this document, you acknowledge that you have read and understood the
information contained herein.

Lucy Ross Shana O’Hara

Employee Manager
X
March 22, 2019
WELLS & ASSOCIATES, LLP INCIDENT REPORT P. 1
 Date Date

Pre-Incident- Although there was a path for the forklift to go through, in the
surveillance video it is seen to be obstructed by small obstacles, like crates and
paper, that could also have contributed to potential accidents. Also, the organization
of where products were lined up in the warehouse created forklift paths that were not
consistent in width. Thus, causing the incident in question.

Incident- On Friday, March 22, 2019, at approximately 10:05 am, there was a forklift
accident in the product storage Warehouse A in Section 18. Lucy Ross was the
designated forklift operator of this section. Her job at the time was to move the
company’s winter products into storage in order to make room for the new spring
camping collection. While she was moving these products, there was a warehouse
accident. Ms. Ross was operating the forklift at a medium speed even though the
policy states that all forklifts should be operated at a slow speed to ensure safety.
Next, Ms. Ross then tried to fit one of our large winter tent products through a
narrow pathway. She was almost able to get through the passage but instead
accidentally hit one of Wells & Associates storage shelves. The hit caused a “domino
effect” causing multiple shelves to come crashing down. The crash caused a cloud of
smoke, warehouse shelves damage, product damage, and a massive clean up.
When Ms. Ross saw that the shelves were falling she quickly got off the forklift
and ran to safety. In her run, she did fall resulting in no injury on her part.

Post-Incident- Immediately after the incident when Ms. Ross ran to safety and after
the shelves settled, three employees immediately came to assess the damage.
Diana Neuman and Jason Waltz were warehouse workers nearby who witnessed the
incident. Brian Makuta the warehouse manager, also came from his office to assess
the damage. Ms. Ross was then checked for injury and gave a statement to HR.
Meanwhile, all production ceased and after surveillance was checked, employees
began to clean up the mess. Supervisors have concluded that Ms. Ross has been
dismissed from Wells & Associates for her reckless forklift use, as well as, her
inability to follow policy. Warehouse layout was also at fault due to its unsafe forklift
pathway. Therefore, to begin to fix this problem and prevent it from happening again
all warehouse employees will have to retake their safety training, all forklift operators
will be temporarily under advisement, and in the time it will take to clean up the mess
there will be a new warehouse layout. To ensure that no pathway will be obstructed,
as well as, making extra wide pathways for large forklift products.

WELLS & ASSOCIATES, LLP INCIDENT REPORT P. 2