OSHA Inspection: AMERICAN PLASTIC PRODUCTS, INC.

Issued

May 26, 2004

Abate by

May 31, 2004

Penalty

Initial $1,750 · Current $875 Reduced

General-duty citation text

Section 5(a)(1) of the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970:  The
employer did not furnish employment
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 crushing injuries while
standing and/or working in the loading dock area while motor vehicles such
as but not limited to tractor
trailers operating/traveling in the reverse gear:
On or About February 13, 2004, the warehouse manager standing or working
near the non-operational, fixed
loading dock plate was crushed against the dock plate when a Freightliner
tractor with a 53 foot enclosed
trailer attached was operating in the reverse gear, moving in a northerly
direction towards the north wall of
the loading dock where the fixed loading dock plate was located.
Consequently, the warehouse manager sustained multiple, life threatening
injuries due to being pinned between
the fixed dock plate and the back end of the 53 foot long trailer.
Among other methods, one feasible and acceptable abatement methods to
correct
this hazard is to prevent
employee access to the loading dock area while motor vehicle are operating
in the loading dock.