Forklift Safety: 16 and Paralyzed

John Higgins was a regular 16-year-old who found a good-paying job and was eager to help most anyone around the workplace. All was well, up until a simple mistake — along with improper forklift training — led to an accident that left John with a broken back and without a kidney. The incident happened more than 10 years ago, and John has since learned to walk again, albeit in constant pain. He walks with a cane, and only for short distances. According to John, if he had received proper training, and not observed unsafe forklift behavior from fellow employees, his accident would have never happened.