Inspection Detail

Inspection: 307398057 - United Parcel Service (Ups)

Inspection Information - Office: San Francisco District Office

Investigation Summary

At approximately 10:45 p.m. on July 9, 2007, an employee was working for a large package pickup and delivery business. The employee was a clerk with various duties, including work at the customer package-pick-up counter area. The employee had to walk in a large warehouse where packages were kept near a long package conveyor. Several workers reported that due to understaffing and a busy Fourth of July week, numerous packages and carts with packages had accumulated in the conveyor area. The employee was at the end of her shift and was working with a coworker. The employee and the coworker were pointing out a large package in the area. The employee was pushing a Harper-brand convertible metal cart with four wheels that was loaded with several packages. She left the cart to go identify the particular package. As she was walking around the cart, her left foot caught on the front wheel and she tripped and fell onto the concrete ground. Her right wrist and right knee contacted the concrete and were broken. The employee was hospitalized for several days to treat her injury, which required surgery. The only witness to the accident was the coworker, whose back was turned at the very time the employee fell. It was the employee's opinion that she would not have tripped had the area not been so congested. During the time of the accident, the employee was wearing work boots and a work uniform, and reported no debris, stray objects, liquids, or grease on the ground. Witnesses were unable to recollect whether aisle widths were less than 24 inches during the time of the accident. At the time of the inspection, the area was cleaned out and aisle widths were much greater than 24 inches.

Keywords: KNEE, FRACTURE, FALL, WRIST