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Accident At Distribution Center Caused Collapse In Cold Chamber, With Tonnes Of Frozen Products And Firefighters’ Rescue.
An accident at a distribution center left a forklift operator injured after the collapse in a cold chamber that stored tonnes of frozen goods, early Thursday (18), in the West Zone of São Paulo.
The incident occurred around 4:12 AM, in the neighborhood of Jaguara, near km 25 of the Anhanguera Highway, and required a complex rescue by the Fire Department, with specialized support.
According to official information, large internal structures of the cold chamber gave way and hit the worker, causing frozen products to collapse on the circulation area.
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The impact completely blocked access to the site and left the victim trapped under the materials, which increased the risk level of the occurrence.
Collapse In Cold Chamber Involved About 80 Tonnes Of Frozen Products
According to the Fire Department, the collapse in the cold chamber involved approximately 80 tonnes of goods, mainly meats and other frozen food.
Two metal shelves, each about five meters tall, collapsed almost simultaneously, leading to a domino effect of the stored products.
The accident occurred about five meters from the access door of the cold chamber.
As a consequence, the piles of goods prevented the immediate entry of rescue teams, requiring a technical operation to ensure the safety of the environment before the rescue.
Injured Forklift Operator Was Trapped Under The Rubble
The authorities identified the victim as José Beto de Sales, who was working at the site at the time of the accident.
The injured forklift operator had his lower limbs trapped under the collapsed frozen products, remaining immobilized until the arrival of emergency teams.
Even conscious, the worker was experiencing intense pain and difficulty moving, requiring increased caution throughout the removal process.
The instability of the structure and the weight of the materials made the rescue even more delicate.
Firefighters’ Rescue Mobilized Specialized Team
The Fire Department’s rescue involved the actions of the Emergency and Disaster Action Group (GAED), a unit specialized in high-complexity occurrences.
In total, ten vehicles were mobilized to respond to the incident at the distribution center.
At 4:34 AM, after structural assessment and controlled removal of the products, the rescuers were able to access the worker.
The rescue team applied specific techniques to prevent further slides and ensure the safe removal of the victim.
Victim Was Taken To The Hospital das Clínicas With Suspected Fractures
After the rescue, José Beto de Sales was taken to the Hospital das Clínicas.
As reported by firefighters, he had a dislocation in his right ankle and suspected fracture of the right scapula.
Despite the severity of the accident at the distribution center, doctors assessed the worker as stable during transport and kept him under observation for further examinations.
Frozen Products Collapse And Cause Operational Loss
In addition to the injuries to the worker, the accident caused significant material loss.
Furthermore, the company deemed the collapsed frozen products unsuitable for consumption and discarded them, which directly impacted the logistics operation of the distribution center.
Experts point out that, in cold chamber environments, inadequate stacking or structural failures can amplify risks, especially due to the high weight of goods and extreme temperature conditions.
Safety In Distribution Centers Comes Back To The Debate
The case reignites the debate over operational safety in distribution centers, especially those operating with large volumes of frozen products.
Companies can avoid similar accidents by correctly using the shelves, conducting periodic maintenance on structures, and keeping operators in continuous training.
Meanwhile, authorities will investigate the causes of the cold chamber collapse.
The objective is to identify whether there was a structural failure, operational error, or a combination of factors that led to the collapse of the shelves.
Investigation Should Point Out Responsibilities
Finally, the competent authorities will analyze the occurrence.
Technical reports should indicate the exact circumstances of the accident and guide possible adjustments to the safety protocols of the distribution center.
Therefore, cases like this reinforce the importance of prevention, especially in industrial and logistics environments, where the risk of large-scale accidents requires constant attention.
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