LYNNWOOD — Goodwill has been fined $9,000 by the state in connection with a fatal forklift accident in Lynnwood on Aug. 19.
The Department of Labor and Industries on Wednesday released the findings of its inspection.
The department found three violations of workplace safety laws, two of them considered serious, according to the report. Goodwill should have done more to ensure safe operations of heavy equipment, the state found. The forklift operator, a 46-year-old Edmonds man and Goodwill employee, shouldn’t have had his view obstructed by an overly large load. He also should have been driving slower.
The employee needed to have more mandatory training before being allowed to operate the forklift, the state found.
Killed was Chuck K. Lee, 69, of Bothell. Police earlier said the accident happened when the forklift operator saw something in front of his machine and slammed on his brakes, causing a box of merchandise to fall off the machine onto the victim as he walked through the parking lot.
The Lynnwood police investigation continues.
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