Text For Citation: 01 Item/Group: 001 Hazard: GUARDING

Section 5(a)(1) of the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970: The employer did not furnish employmnent and a place of employment which were free from recognized hazards that were causing or likely to cause death or serious physical harm to employees in that employees were exposed to: Loading Docks - On January 9, 2004 at approximately 4:15 A.M. an employee loading baled recycled paper onto a trailer with a powered industrial truck fell from the loading dock when the trailer was pulled away. The employer did not institute a system to protect employees in assuring that loading and unloading of trailers at loading docks was complete and clearance given prior to the trailer being moved away from the dock. Abatement note:Feasible means of abatement may include, but is not limited to: 1.Installation of locks on air brake hoses of parked trailers being loaded/unloaded that assures truck driver of entering building to obtain key from shift supervisor. 2.Installation of pin lock on trailer (where cab hitches to trailer) that will mandate the driver to obtain a key from the shift supervisor. 3.Installation of a dock lock for the trailer ICC bar (on back of trailer) that locks the trailer in place and indicates visually (red or green light indicator) the current lock/unlock status of the trailer. Once an abatement method is chosen, training must be provided to affected employees. These employees would include those individuals having an occasion to enter a trailer (i.e., loading and/or unloading) such as powered industrial truck drivers and/or pedestrians. It is recommended that signs be placed at loading dock areas to inform employees of proper methods to be followed to assure clearance of trailers from loading docks.