Ecology Center: OSHA inspections and violations

Incident on Apr 10, 2012: Truck backing onto scales strikes and kills worker

On April 10, 2012, Employee #1, is a 45-year old male, Hispanic worker with Ecol ogy Center was working with a coworker and were performing their normal activiti es of pick-up and drop off of recycling. As the day progressed, every recycling truck must return to the Community Conservation Center located at (669 Gilman, B erkeley, CA 94701), next to the Ecology Center (1231 Center St.) to drop off its full load. Employee #1 and a coworker had returned with their truck to drop off their load. Prior to unloading, the truck must weigh-in on the truck scale. The coworker was driving the truck from the left side (this truck has two steering wheels on both sides of the cabin) and Employee #1, was in the passenger seat. W hen their truck was pulling into the Community Conservation Center there was alr eady another truck located on the truck scale. Employee #1's truck waited on the west side of the scale. After the other truck pulled out of the scale, The cowo rker drove into the scale, which involved driving forward and left, then backing onto the scale. Employee #1 got out of the truck to guide the truck. The cowork er was not aware that Employee #1 had stepped out of the truck. When the truck's wheels turned right, the right wheel sticks out from the wheel well. The truck moved forward right after Employee #1 exited the truck and ran over Employee #1' s right foot. Employee #1 was taken by ambulance from 1231 Ecology Center to Ala meda County Medical Center, Highland Hospital in Oakland, CA. His right foot, ab ove the ankle, was amputated. Employee #1 had worked for the employer for twenty years. Employee #1 and the coworker had been partnered together for seven-month s.