Imran Khan injured in fork lift fall

The Fork Lift Truck Association has expressed its commiserations with Pakistani politician and former world-class cricketer Imran Khan and his family, following an accident involving a fork lift truck at a rally in Lahore.

Khan was injured when he fell from a fork lift truck that was hoisting him onto a stage in the country’s capital. Sixty-year-old Khan, who is the leader of the Tehreek-e-Insaaf Party (TPI), and his security guards fell from the truck after the wooden planks which formed a makeshift platform collapsed suddenly.

Khan sustained injuries to his back and a CT scan identified a minor fracture to the head. In addition, he received eleven stitches – five to the front and six to the back of the head.

FLTA Technical Manager Owen Delaney said: "An incident such as this is a powerful reminder of the real dangers involved in using makeshift solutions.
"Fork lift trucks do an unparalleled amount of good in our workplaces, but they are not intended to lift people except in exceptional circumstances and with all appropriate measures being taken."

Falls from height are one of the leading causes of workplace fatalities in the UK. According to provisional statistics from the HSE (2011/12), falls from height resulted in the deaths of 40 Britons.

"Anyone who is responsible for fork lift truck operations can access a wealth of material and resources to help ensure they are working safely, efficiently and within the law by accessing the FLTA website or by joining our Safe User Group.
"Mr Khan and his colleagues are very fortunate that their injuries were not more serious. Our thoughts go out to the families of all of those injured and wish them a quick recovery."

To view or download a factsheet on the use of working platforms on fork lift trucks, please go to: fork-truck.org.uk/app/images/members/Fact-Sheets/FS_18.pdf.

The Fork Lift Truck Association is the UK’s independent authority on fork lift trucks. For more information, please visit www.fork-truck.org.uk or call 01635 277577.