OSHA Inspection: L & R OF ILLINOIS, INC.

Issued

2005-04-19 00:00:00

Abate by

2005-07-21 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $4500.00 · Current $2250.00 Reduced

General-duty citation text

Section 5(a)(1) of the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970: The
employer did not
provide a place of employment that was free from recognized hazards that
were likely to cause
death or serious physical harm to employees in that employees were exposed
to a crush and
struck by hazard between the loading dock and moving trailers.
Dock areas: Goodyear Midwest Logistic's Center, 3095 Corporate Drive,
Dekalb, IL.
Freight handler employees working for L & R of Illinois, Inc. work at the
dock edge
when communicating with yard personnel and when using a long pole tool to
secure and
release trailers from dock locks.  Trailers are often coupled to the
tractor while the driver
is inside a running vehicle.
L & R of Illinois, Inc. did not develop and utilize procedures for
preventing employees
from being at open dock doors behind moving trailers or trailers that have
the potential
to move.
A feasible method of abatement, among others, would be to develop and
implement a
dock safety program for employees, which includes the following provisions:
a)Policy prohibiting employees from standing/working near the edge of the
dock,
when trailers are moving, or have the potential to move.  This includes
using a
dock lock pole tool at the edge of the dock to secure and release "live
load"
trailers from the dock.
b)Policy prohibiting truck drivers from coupling or moving trailers in the
dock area
until the truck driver has effectively verified, or another employee has
effectively
verified and communicated to the truck driver, that all employees and
equipment
have been removed from the trailer and surrounding dock and yard areas.
c)Train dock personnel on recognition of structural characteristics of
trailers that
may interfere with normal dock lock operation.
d)Procedures to follow when dock locks will not release a trailer.  This
includes
effective communication between dock personnel, yard personnel and truck
drivers.  Spanish/English language issues need to be effectively addressed.
e)Procedures for dock personnel to observe and report damaged or missing
dock
bumpers.
f)Conduct a job safety hazard analysis of all types of tasks dock
employees perform
and determine the extent of their exposure to hazards.
g)Train all affected employees on all established safety procedures and
recognition
of hazards.  Coordinate procedures and employee training with all
employers on
site.
h)Monitor work practices to assure compliance with safety rules.
Establish and
enforce discipline policy.
Abatement note:  For assistance in developing a dock safety program or
performing job
hazard analysis, see the National Safety Council's Motor Fleet Safety
Manual, Chapter
7 "Employee Safety Program" and Chapter 14 "Job Safety Analysis", 4th
Edition, 1996,
1121 Spring Lake Drive, Itasca, IL  60143-3201, www.nsc.org.
ABATEMENT DOCUMENTATION AND CERTIFICATION REQUIRED