Inspection Detail

Inspection: 307185314 - 99 Cent Store

Inspection Information - Office: Monrovia District Office

Investigation Summary

On July 13, 2007, Employee #1, a warehouse worker, worked her entire shift and, according to an employer's statement, no report of an industrial accident was submitted that day to management. On July 16, 2007 and July 17, 2007, Employee #1 did not report to work. On July 18, 2007, Employee #1 reported to work and approximately thirty minutes later, several employees informed Employee #1's supervisor, that she looked pale and disoriented. The supervisor went and spoke with Employee #1. She indicated that she visited a dentist on July 14, 2007 for the dental work and was taking medication. The supervisor instructed another employee to drive Employee #1 home. Employee #1 had multiple bruises on her body and died. Employee #1's cousin, brother, and father stated to the Sheriff's Department on July 19, 2007 that Employee #1 informed them that she was involved in an accident at her place of work. According to the Employee #1 father's statement, Employee #1 informed him on July 13, 2007, that she was involved in an accident at work and multiple boxes fell on her. With reference to the Employee #1 cousin's statement, Employee #1 informed him that she was involved in a forklift accident at work on July 14, 2007, and that a black male struck her with the forklift and she fell. She notified her supervisor and the forklift operator was suspended for two days. Moreover, Employee #1's brother stated that Employee #1 informed him that she was operating a stand up pallet jack. When she was turning the corner, she was struck by another employee operating a forklift. As a result of the impact with the forklift, Employee #1 hit her jaw against the operating controls of her own pallet jack. She reported the accident to her supervisor, who then suspended the forklift operator for two days. The employer stated that the incident reported by Employee #1's family members did not occur. Employees of the 99 Cents Only Store, who worked on the same shift, were interviewed and did not recall a collision involving Employee #1 and the forklift operator.

Keywords: WAREHOUSE, TORSO, INDUSTRIAL TRUCK, PALLET, STRUCK BY, CONTUSION