Inspection Detail

Inspection: 312695679 - Ucsf Medical Center

Inspection Information - Office: San Francisco District Office

Investigation Summary

On May 28, 2013, Employee #1, hospital assistant, was working at a medical center and within the shipping and transport section of its material services department. A truck driver came into the office where Employee #1 worked and asked for assistant to process his delivery. Employee #1 went to the loading dock with the driver and routinely checked the items received. The bed of the truck was higher than the dock. They were trying to examine and determine how to operate a Kelley dock leveler. The leveler had two sections. The main section was a metal plate that was an approximately 5 ft wide by 6 ft long hinge that was attached onto a metal extension (lip plate) that was approximately 18 in. by 5 ft wide. Employee #1 was standing near the edge of the dock leaning over a corner of the leveler. He placed his right hand over the edge (hinge area) in his attempt to lift the metal plate of the leveler. At approximately 2:00 p.m., the driver pulled a rear chain that unknowingly actuated the leveler. Employee #1's right thumb was caught in the hinge area of the leveler when the lip plate sprung upwards. The metal extension flipped and came together with the main section crushing Employee #1's thumb. Additionally, his left inside calf was scraped when the corner of the leveler popped up. Employee #1 ran directly to the operating room of the hospital. The driver notified another dock employee, who then immediately informed the dock supervisor. Employee #1 was treated for his crushed right thumb and underwent surgery. After he was hospitalized for 10 days, only the base of his thumb could be saved.

Keywords: AMPUTATED, DOCK, CAUGHT BY, THUMB, CAUGHT BETWEEN, CRUSHED