Inspection Detail

Inspection: 306021122 - M & W Storage, Inc. Dba Wadzinski Storage

Inspection Information - Office: Omaha Area Office

Investigation Summary

On June 2, 2004, Employee #1, a warehouse manager, and a coworker were serving as caretakers of a government commodity warehouse used for storing powdered milk. Their main responsibility was to ensure the cleanliness of the facility. The warehouse, many years ago, was used for flat storage of corn and still had corn residue on 2-foot by 6-foot boards laid across the buildings rafters. The corn residue would frequently fall to the warehouse floor when the boards were knocked off by birds, or wind would blow through the roof vents. Due to this occurrence, the warehouse floor frequently required sweeping. Employee #1 and the coworker decided that they would climb the wooden ladder that was built into the side of the warehouse to access the rafters and determine what action was required to prevent the corn from falling. Employee #1 and her coworker climbed the wooden ladder, walked across the boards on the rafters, knocking loose corn residue to the floor with their feet. Employee #1 and her coworker then began to climb back down the ladder. As they ascended the ladder, Employee #1's coworker warned Employee #1 that the first board at the top of the ladder was loose. Only a few seconds after the coworker's advice, the board pulled loose and Employee #1 lost her balance. Employee #1 fell approximately 30 to 40 feet to the concrete warehouse floor, resulting in massive head trauma, and the death of Employee #1.

Keywords: HEAD, GUARDRAIL, WAREHOUSE, WORK RULES, LADDER, EQUIPMENT FAILURE, FALL, CONCUSSION, LOST BALANCE, WORK SURFACE