Inspection Detail

Inspection: 3325990 - Valley Proteins, Inc.

Inspection Information - Office: Virginia Central 0355100

Investigation Summary

AT APPROXIMATELY 5:30 PM ON MAY 27, 1986, EMPLOYEE #1 WAS MANUALLY TRANSFERRING EMPTY 55 GALLON METAL BARRELS FROM A TRAILER TRANSPORT TO A 2-1/2 TON STRAIGHT TRUCK. THE STRAIGHT TRUCK WAS EQUIPPED WITH A HYDRAULIC TAIL GATE. THE TAIL GATE WAS WET AND COVERED WITH GREASE, SO WAS QUITE SLIPPERY. THE TAIL GATE CONTROLS WERE ALSO DAMAGED FROM AN EARLIER IMPACT, WHICH RESULTED IN THE GATE SOMETIMES RISING EVEN THOUGH THE HAND CONTROL WAS NOT HELD IN THE "RAISE" POSITION. EMPLOYEE #1, WHO APPARENTLY WAS RIDING THE TAIL GATE AS HE WAS LOADING THE BARRELS, SLIPPED AND FELL AS THE TAIL GATE WAS RISING AND BECAME PINNED BETWEEN THE TAIL GATE'S LEFT CORNER AND THE BODY OF THE PARKED TRAILER TRANSPORT. HE DIED FROM A CRUSHING INJURY TO HIS LOWER ABDOMEN.

Keywords: LOADING, ABDOMEN, SLIP, CRUSHED, TRUCK, MANUAL MAT HANDLING, SLIPPERY SURFACE, LOST BALANCE