Inspection Detail
Inspection: 300693553 - Fresh Fields/Whole Foods Market
Inspection Information - Office: Department Of Labor, Licensing, And Regulation Division Of Labor And Industry Maryland Occupational Safety And Health
Site Address:
Fresh Fields/Whole Foods Market
4938 Boiling Brook Park Way
Rockville, MD 20852
Mailing Address:
, , 00000
Union Status: NonUnion
SIC:5148
NAICS: 0
Inspection Type: Accident
Scope: Partial
Advanced Notice: N
Ownership: Private
Safety/Health: Safety
Close Conference: 10/15/1997
Emphasis:
Case Closed: 10/15/1997
| Type | Activity Nr | Safety | Health |
|---|---|---|---|
| Accident | 100962802 |
Investigation Summary
Employee #1, who worked in a produce warehouse, was operating a riding jack on loading dock #4. Because it was designed to accommodate one truck that sat 5 in. higher than the rest of the company's fleet, the loading plate was 5 in. higher than those on the other docks. It was common practice for all workers to use a weighed pallet, a spare riding fork, or a load lock pole, to hold down this plate during loading. When the pole method was used, the bottom of the pole would be placed on the dock plate, the top would be placed on the top frame of the truck, and the pole jack would then be tightened. Employee #1 could not get the pole positioned to his satisfaction; he decided to try a new method, and placed the top of the pole under the bottom edge of the loading dock door. While he did this, he had a coworker use the door motor to lower the door, thereby forcing the pole to hold down the dock plate. Unbeknownst to Employee #1, the door cable was being unwound from its drum by this process. The pole slipped out from under the door, and when he kicked it to put it back in position, the door fell. Its struck Employee #1 on the neck, knocking him off his feet. Employee #1 later said that neither he nor anyone else had ever used that method before, and that he was unaware that the cable would unwind from its drum.
Keywords: WIRE ROPE, UNSECURED, WORK RULES, SLIP, FALL, NECK, STRUCK BY, LOADING DOCK, DOOR
| # | Inspection | Age | Sex | Degree of Injury | Nature of Injury | Occupation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 300693553 | Hospitalized injury | Other | Graders and sorters, agricultural products |
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