Fatal Scissor Lift Overturn

The Town of Clayton’s fire chief, John Pridemore, died recently following an incident that involved the overturning of a scissor lift.

According to the fire department’s bulletin, someone opened a door to the firehouse and pushed an elevated scissor lift over. Pridemore had been cleaning inside the firehouse near the door using the scissor lift.

Pridemore fell from the lift, striking his head on the bumper of the nearby fire engine. The chief was taken to the hospital, but didn’t survive his injuries.

According to the bulletin, the person opening the door intended to raise another door but accidentally used a master button that affects all of the doors in the firehouse. No further information was provided regarding safety precautions.

Pridemore is survived by his wife, two children, and one grandchild.

Large Equipment Use Presents Safety Issue in the Workplace

It’s fairly common for people to be injured on scissor lifts and other large equipment. It’s one of the main risks faced by those working in industrial jobs. This includes many people who die due to scissor lifts being pushed over by other objects.

Safety officials recommend risks assessments be implemented regularly to avoid problems such as the one that killed Pridemore. They also encourage employers to disable or tag overhead crane or door controls to reduce risks associated with scissor lifts in the workplace.

Have you or a loved one been injured on the job? Was large equipment like a scissor lift involved in the incident? You could be entitled to compensation. Our firm has worked with people in a variety of situations that were injured by large equipment while on the job.

For more information or to discuss your situation, contact Heavens Law at 484-467-8254. All phone consultations are free and confidential, with no obligation beyond that.