Inspection Detail

Inspection: 974926.015 - Spartannash

Inspection Information - Office: Cincinnati Area Office

Investigation Summary

At 1:00 a.m. on April 29, 2014, a truck driver arrived at a warehouse with a full trailer. The employee then was to drive an empty trailer back to the originating location. The employee was instructed to sweep up the trailer, which was located on the south east side at dock #45, remove items or equipment inside the trailer, and place them inside the perishable side of the warehouse. The employee opened the warehouse rolling door of dock # 45 and stepped into the pit to open the trailer door. The dock leveler, also called the ramp, was a Kelly model HV615. This style of ramp is stored in a vertical position unlike traditional ramps stored in a horizontal position. The victim stepped out of the pit to lower the ramp onto the trailer by pulling a chain. Once the chain is pulled the hydraulics are activated and released and lower the ramp onto the trailer. The ramp did not lower due to the support leg holding it in the vertical position. The employee stepped inside the pit which was approximately 6 ft by 8 ft by 10 ft and raised the support leg. The ramp lowered onto the employee's chest. The employee was found unresponsive by a coworker approximately one hour later. The employee sustained compressional asphyxia and was killed.

Keywords: Asphyxiated, Caught In, Crushing, Falling Object, Struck By