Bloozed Guy Rides Reverse on Highway's Forklift Rodeo
Inebriated individual operates a forklift, collides head-on with oncoming vehicles - Inebriated operator navigates vehicular traffic with a wheel loader under the influence
You'll probably raise an eyebrow at this Ascension Day tale. On this particular day, a 28-year-old fella, tipsy as a sailor, thought it was a brilliant idea to hop on a forklift and pilot it several kilometers on a federal highway, continuously zigzagging into the wrong lane. The jaw-dropping event received joint reports from the Public Prosecutor's Office Marburg and the Police Directorate Waldeck-Frankenberg.
Gleaning the details, a police spokesperson claimed the man pilfered the forklift from a construction site in Münchhausen that very Thursday evening without permission. His first caution signal? A tree. After that came a series of collisions on the highway. A 55-year-old driver received minor injuries during the chaos.
His escapade concluded at a pond, where our unlucky hero ended up in the slammer. The suspect is slated for a court date in Marburg on Friday.
- Wrong lane
- Booze Cruise
- Ascension Day
- Highway
- Marburg
GERMAN CHILL-OUT LAWS
In Germany, operating heavy machinery like a forklift under the influence of alcohol is governed by several legal frameworks. Here's the lowdown:
THE LEGAL LOWDOWN
1. Occupational Safety and Health Laws- Arbeitsschutzgesetz (ArbSchG): The main occupational safety and health law, which oversees employers ensuring worker safety at work.- Betriebssicherheitsverordnung (BetrSichV): The Occupational Safety and Health Ordinance, which regulates the handling of work equipment, including forklifts. It explicitly bans the use of work equipment by employees under the influence of alcohol or substances that might compromise safety.- DGUV Vorschrift 1: An accident prevention regulation by the German Social Accident Insurance (DGUV) mandating that employees be trained, qualified, and free from impairment, including from alcohol.
2. Criminal Law- StGB (Strafgesetzbuch) § 315c: This criminal code section covers endangerment of road traffic, and operating a forklift on public roads or in regions open to public traffic while under the influence of alcohol or drugs is prosecutable. Infractions may result in fines or incarceration.- 0.0‰ or 0.5‰ Limits: For certain safety-sensitive jobs, especially operating machinery or vehicles, strict alcohol limits apply. In most industrial and construction environments, a strict "zero tolerance" policy is enforced, meaning any detectable blood alcohol level could lead to disciplinary action.
EMPLOYER RESPONSIBILITIES
- Training and Policy: Employers must offer proper training and institute clear policies forbidding alcohol and drug use while operating forklifts or any heavy machinery.
- Immediate Removal: Any worker discovered under the influence must be promptly removed from heavy machinery duties.
- Inspections and Enforcement: Regular checks and rigorous enforcement are expected under German OSH regulations.
CONSEQUENCES
- Disciplinary Measures: Violations can result in reprimands, suspension, or termination by the employer.
- Legal Penalties: Depending on the situation, criminal charges could be brought, particularly if the impaired operation results in accidents, endangerment of others, or property damage.
- Insurance Issues: Workers' compensation and liability insurance could be voided if alcohol impairment is demonstrated.
- Despite the numerous laws regulating the use of work equipment like forklifts in Germany, the 28-year-old man, in his inebriated state, disregarded the occupational safety and health laws such as Arbeitsschutzgesetz (ArbSchG), Betriebssicherheitsverordnung (BetrSichV), and DGUV Vorschrift 1, leading to his misadventure on the federal highway.
- The incident serves as a chilling reminder for employers to enforce stringent employment policies, ensuring all employees are trained, qualified, and free from impairment while operating heavy machinery, as per StGB (Strafgesetzbuch) § 315c, which prohibits operating such machinery under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
