Inspection Detail

Inspection: 316359934 - Con-Way Freight, Inc.

Inspection Information - Office: Nc Department Of Labor - Raleigh

Investigation Summary

On February 8, 2012, Employee #1 was getting his truck loaded at Cherry Farms Seed Company, Inc., in Columbia, NC. The loading dock was at the rear of the business, and the pavement sloped down to the loading dock. After his truck was loaded, Employee #1 walked onto the ramp that was laid between his trailer and the loading dock, and he pulled his trailer door down to within 12 inches to 14 inches of being closed. He walked back onto the loading dock, and a Cherry Farms dock worker removed the ramp, thus leaving approximately three feet of distance between the trailer and the concrete dock. Employee #1 stepped across the gap to his trailer and closed the door more fully to engage the final latch. He climbed down between the trailer and the loading dock, presumably to fully latch the trailer door. The dock worker looked back from his position and saw Employee #1 pinned between the trailer and the dock but did not see the actual accident as it occurred. The dock worker called for help, and volunteer EMTs (emergency medical technicians) that happened to be on the farm responded and attempted CPR on Employee #1. Emergency medical services had been called. An ambulance responded and other EMTs continued working on Employee #1. The accident had occurred at 3:30 p.m. and Chowan Hospital was called at 3:45 p.m. An EMT spoke with a doctor, who advised stopping CPR. A Sheriff's Deputy called the ME (medical examiner) at 3:49 p.m. The ME took the body and held it for transport to Greenville, NC, for an autopsy by State MEs at Pitt County Memorial Hospital. Edgecombe County Sheriff's office was contacted to notify the family. Witnesses stated the truck was turned off and the front axle had chocks on the front of the tires only.

Keywords: CHOCK, CPR, PINNED, STRUCK BY, TRACTOR TRAILER, LOADING DOCK, TIRE