Inspection Detail

Note: The following inspection has not been indicated as closed. OSHA citation items will be posted 30 (thirty) days after the employer receives the citation(s), except in cases of significant public interest. Posted citation items reflect any amendments to citations that are the result of a prompt settlement, which OSHA encourages. Employers and employee representatives will continue to receive copies of the citation(s) upon issuance.

Inspection: 1727816.015 - Owl Metal'S Inc.

Inspection Information - Office: Department Of Labor, Licensing, And Regulation Division Of Labor And Industry Maryland Occupational Safety And Health

Investigation Summary

At 2:20 p.m. on February 13, 2024, an employee working as a powered industrial vehicle (PIV) operator for a recycling facility was operating a forklift moving scrap metal to coworkers ("torchers") so they could cut the metal into more manageable pieces. Video cameras show the employee walking from the back of the lot, possibly from a restroom, toward the front entrance. The employee was walking on the main thoroughfare where approximately 100 commercial and residential vehicles travel on a daily basis. It was noted from the video that the employee was wearing a dark colored hoodie, dark pants, and no reflective vest while walking in the yard. The video evidence also showed the employee walking beside a 2007 Sterling 9511 roll-off container truck. A coworker driving the truck had just loaded and secured a roll-off dumpster of scrap material that was being delivered to a refinery. As the employee walked beside the truck, he crossed in front of the truck without appearing to acknowledge the coworker of his intentions to walk in front of the vehicle. The coworker looked around the vehicle to check for clearance and proceeded to pull away from the loading area. In doing so he struck the employee with the front bumper of his truck. The employee fell to the ground and was hit by the front axle and then rolled over and crushed by the rear passenger drive axles of the truck. The employee died due to crushing injuries to his back, head, legs, lungs, abdomen and chest.

Keywords: Abdomen, Axle, Back, Chest, Contusion, Crushed, Driving, Equipment Operator, Fall, Fall On Same Level, Fracture, Head, Laceration, Leg, Lung, Material Handling, Metal container, Motor Vehicle, Protective Clothing, Reflective Vest, Run Over, Scrap, Scrap Metal, Struck By, Truck, Truck Driver, Walking Surface, Yard