Open Van Door Crushes Shipper

A shipper-receiver at a warehouse was crushed to death when he was pinned by the open back door of a van which was backing up.

He had been loading material into the van with a fellow worker. After the van was loaded, the rear doors were left open and the other worker started to move the van away from the warehouse. The second worker was not an experienced driver, and it appears he mistakenly put the vehicle into reverse. The victim was pinned between a rear door of the van and an I-beam on the warehouse dock.

This mishap could happen anywhere – even in your own driveway at home as you move your family’s car. Doors must be secured before moving a vehicle. Before you back up, walk around your vehicle in a circle check to make sure you will not hit anyone or anything. Check your mirrors. Work vehicles should have backup alarms and lighting should be adequate in all work areas such as loading docks to help prevent collisions with pedestrians. This incident report also underscores the importance of obtaining training to operate any kind of equipment safely, even equipment as common as an automobile. The two had worked a 10 or 11 hour shift before the mishap. When you are tired from working a long shift or odd hours, take extra care to work safely because you might not be as alert as usual.