A Pennsylvania judicial panel has upheld the denial of unemployment compensation for a worker who was terminated for allowing a lathe to fall off a forklift.

Hermitage, Pennsylvania-based GW Becker Inc, a distributor of electric chain hoists, terminated Bruce Taylor on 8 May 2009 for deliberately not following proper procedures in unloading a lathe. Taylor had worked at the firm for three years.

An unemployment compensation board of review in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania denied Taylor benefits on the basis his conduct was willful. Taylor sued, but, on 29 July, a three-judge panel affirmed the board's decision.

GW Becker maintains it trained Taylor on proper ways to lift items using a forklift and that he was experienced in loading and unloading equipment.

On Taylor's last day on the job, he was present at the firm's Grove City, Pennsylvania facility when the lathe was loaded. Later, at the Hermitage headquarters plant, he acceded to the truck driver's request to unload the lathe on rough terrain in front of the building rather than on the more stable concrete pad at the rear of the property.

Taylor acknowledged failing to use slings to secure the lathe to the forklift tines during the unloading. Worth USD3,750, the lathe became unbalanced on the structural prongs and was damaged beyond repair in falling off the forklift.

GW Becker immediately discharged Taylor for failing to secure the lathe.