OSHA Fines Sam's Club after Investigation into Erie Employee's Death
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has fined Sam's Club $156,259 following the death of a worker at its Erie location.
It happened Sept. 30 at the Summit Township store.
A 20-year-old worker - Benjamin Knight Jr. - was hit by an overhead loading dock door.
He became trapped and died a week later at UPMC Hamot from blunt force trauma, according to the coroner.
The willful citation and fine was issued in late March because the "employer failed to furnish to each of its employees employment and a place of employment which were free from recognized hazards that were causing or likely to cause death or serious physical harm," according to OSHA.
The OSHA investigation found workers were exposed to danger because the defective garage door would not stay securely in place when raised or opened.
Here's a look at the details of the violation as provided by OSHA:
Section 5(a)(1) of the OSH Act: Employer failed to furnish to each of its employees employment and a place of employment which were free from recognized hazards that were causing or likely to cause death or serious physical harm. Employees were exposed to a struck-by hazard that existed because a defective garage door used by employees would not stay securely in place in the raised/open position: a.) Sam's Club #6675 Erie, PA/DSD Vendor Door: On or about September 30, 2022, and times prior thereto, employees opened the DSD Vendor overhead door to gain access to the exterior of the building to deliver merchandise to customers, and for other purposes. The mechanism for keeping the door in the raised/open position was broken, so that employees were exposed to the danger of the door lowering to the closed position suddenly and with great force. On September 30, 2022, a 20-year-old employee was struck by the door when it closed at an unexpectedly high rate of speed. The employee later died of his injuries. Abatement Note: Among other methods, feasible means of abatement include locking the door out of service until repairs could be completed, or using a danger tag as permitted under 29 C.F.R. ? 1910.145(f)(3) and (f)(5) until repairs could be completed. In The Alternative: 29 CFR 1910.145(f)(3): Tags shall be used as a means to prevent accidental injury or illness to employees who are exposed to hazardous or potentially hazardous conditions, equipment or operations which are out of the ordinary, unexpected or not readily apparent. Tags shall be used until such time as the identified hazard is eliminated or the hazardous operation is completed: a.) Sam's Club #6675 Erie, PA/DSD Vendor Door: On or about September 30, 2022, the DSD Vendor overhead door was not applied with a tag to warn employees of the hazards associated with the door. The hazards included a sudden drop and uncontrolled fall of the door. The door was still in a state of repair in that the door's two spring mechanisms were not operational and were still awaiting continued serving/maintenance by an outside contractor. The door was lifted with a forklift into the open position. The door later fell onto a 20-year-old employee who later died as a result of his injuries.