The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has concluded their investigation into the death of a U.S. Xpress employee.
An accident in April involving the death of an employee prompted the OSHA investigation.
The incident took place at the Dollar Tree Distribution Center in Savannah, Georgia, when a yard truck struck the man while he was walking between two semi-tractor trailers. The truck had dragged the man for some distance before the driver realized what had happened. The accident ultimately lead to his death.
According to a press release from the U.S. Department of Labor, OSHA issued a citation to Dollar Tree and U.S. Xpress for exposing their workers to hazards and on-site dangers that lead to the death of an employee.
In addition to these citations, the press release from OSHA notes that The Dollar Tree Distribution Center was also cited specifically for the following reasons: “using a vehicle with a non-functioning headlight, failing to guard a nip point on a conveyor discharge belt, and storing unstable materials on racks.”
In detail, U.S Xpress Inc. faces penalties of $12,934, and Dollar Tree Distribution Center Inc. faces penalties of $130,112.
After the accident, Dollar Tree gave a statement to a local news sources that said, “Safety is always our first priority and we are cooperating fully with the investigation.”
However, OSHA’s Savannah Area Director, Margo Westmoreland, seems to disagree. She says, “This tragedy could have been prevented had the employer assessed the workplace for hazards and taken action to eliminate the safety risks to employees.”