New-Worker Zone: Why the First Year on the Job Has Disproportionate Risk Fatality File

New Worker Fatally Pinned Between Loading Dock and Backing Truck

A day laborer hired outside a home and garden store was fatally crushed while loading and unloading trucks at a warehouse. As the worker attempted to climb onto the loading dock, a truck began backing into the bay. The driver, relying on mirrors and a functioning back-up alarm, did not see the worker positioned in the truck’s blind spot. The victim was pinned between the truck and the dock and died from his injuries.

Investigators found that the worker had received no safety training and was unfamiliar with hazards in active backing zones. The CA/FACE investigation determined that a lack of spotters, poor pedestrian-vehicle separation, and limited visibility contributed to the incident. Employers using day laborers must ensure that workers receive proper instruction and demonstrate competency before performing high-risk tasks around moving vehicles.

Source: Cdph.ca.gov