OSHA Inspection: KNOLL, INC.

Issued

Feb 3, 2012

Abate by

Feb 8, 2012

Penalty

Initial $4,250 · Current $2,975 Reduced

General-duty citation text

Section 5(a)(1) of the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970:  The
employer did not
furnish employmnent 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 hazard of crushing or falling when trailers where moved
away from the dock
while dock workers were engaged in loading or unloading cargo:
a) Knoll, Inc., Loading Docks - On or about August 8, 2011, a forklift
operator was
exposed to a falling or crushing hazard when a tractor trailer was pulled
away from the
loading dock while the forklift operator was inside the trailer.
ABATEMENT NOTE:  One feasible and acceptable means of abatement would be
to develop
and implement a dock safety program for employees, which includes some of
the following
provisions: a) System for notifying the spotter driver when it is safe to
enter and exit the dock
area. (dock lock system or stop/go lights).  b)  Policy prohibiting the
spotter
from moving
trailers in the dock area until the spotter has effectively verified, or
another employee has
effectively verified and communicated to the spotter, that all the
employees and employee have
been removed from the trailer and surrounding dock and yard areas. c)
Operators receive
direction from only one source.
No abatement certification or documentation required.tion