UNITED STATES
DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Inspection Detail

Inspection: 304298722 - Michel Distribution Services, Inc

Inspection Information - Office: Maryland Region 3

Investigation Summary

Employee #1, a yard jockey for Michal Distribution, had bruises when he drove a fork lift he was not authorized to drive into a steel column. Employee #1's duties were to operate a yard tractor to park semi-trailers at assigned loading docks. The Model Number of the fork lift was H 20 CT 600 03. The Serial Number was 42 X 350L 0035620. Employee #1 was the sole employee of Michael Distribution at this site. Warehouse operations were performed by Shipworks Logistics, who was essentially a subcontractor to Michael Distribution. Witnesses stated that Employee #1 was operating the fork lift at a high rate of speed (the fork lift repair company estimated that the truck was traveling at or near maximum speed) when the lift struck a steel column. The column measured ten inches by ten inches. Witnesses indicated that Employee #1 was looking to his right when the accident occurred. It was later learned that the fork lift was out of service due to a broken seat latch, and the key had been removed and the unit tagged out. The shift coordinator for Shipworks stated that Employee #1 had requested the key to the fork lift earlier on the shift but was turned down. No one instructed Employee #1 to operate the machine nor was anyone aware that Employee #1 was operating the fork lift. Employee #1 was not trained or certified to operate a fork lift, and the employee's written job description did not include operating a fork lift. Employee #1 was transported to the University of Maryland Shock Trauma Center by MSP helicopter. Employee #1 was complaining of head and chest pain. He was treated and released on the same day.

Keywords:column, industrial truck, contusion