US Postal Service
Fall from collapsing structure or equipment less than 6 feet — Fractures — MERRIFIELD, Virginia
| Employer | US Postal Service |
| Address | 8409 Lee Highway |
| City, State ZIP | MERRIFIELD, Virginia 22081 |
| Report ID | 20201211834 |
| Event Date | December 18, 2020 |
| Outcome | Hospitalized |
| Nature of Injury | Fractures |
| Body Part | Thigh(s) |
| Event Type | Fall from collapsing structure or equipment less than 6 feet |
| Source of Injury | Ramps, loading docks, dock plates |
| Secondary Source | Semi, tractor-trailer, tanker truck |
| Industry (NAICS) | 491110 |
| GPS Coordinates | 38.87364, -77.23556 |
Location Map
Incident Narrative
An employee was on a dock plate when the truck pulled away from the loading dock. The plate dropped down and the employee fell, landing 4 feet below and suffering a broken left femur.
Incident Summary
On December 18, 2020, a worker at US Postal Service in MERRIFIELD, Virginia suffered fractures to the thigh(s). The incident was classified as fall from collapsing structure or equipment less than 6 feet, with ramps, loading docks, dock plates identified as the source of injury. The worker was hospitalized.
Context
OSHA has recorded 69 severe injury reports involving "Fall from collapsing structure or equipment less than 6 feet" incidents in our database. Browse all Fall from collapsing structure or equipment less than 6 feet injuries.
Similar Incidents
Other severe injury reports involving Fall from collapsing structure or equipment less than 6 feet events:
| Date | Employer | Location | Nature | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 3, 2016 | Team Industrial Services, Inc. | CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas | Fractures and burns | Hosp. |
| Nov 18, 2021 | McLane Company | HAMILTON, Ohio | Fractures | Hosp. |
| Mar 30, 2015 | Rite Aid Corporation | BUFFALO, New York | Traumatic injuries and disorders, unspecified | Hosp. |
| Jun 19, 2019 | IronWood Group LLC | DOLORES, Colorado | Fractures | Hosp. |
| Oct 26, 2018 | Covered Wagon Trailers, LLC | FITZGERALD, Georgia | Fractures (except skull fractures) and concussions | Hosp. |
| Jun 22, 2018 | Macy's | CINCINNATI, Ohio | Fractures | Hosp. |
| Feb 27, 2021 | Southeast Pipe Survey, Inc | PATTERSON, Georgia | Fractures | Hosp. |
| Aug 5, 2020 | Siemens Medical Solutions USA, Inc | JACKSONVILLE, Florida | Fractures | Hosp. |
Frequently Asked Questions
Workers injured on the job have the right to medical treatment covered by workers' compensation, wage replacement benefits during recovery, and protection against retaliation for reporting the injury. You have the right to file a complaint with OSHA if you believe your workplace is unsafe, and OSHA cannot reveal your identity to your employer without your consent. You also have the right to see your OSHA 300 injury log. If your employer denies a workers' comp claim, you can appeal through your state's workers' compensation board. An occupational health attorney can advise on complex cases involving denied claims or third-party liability.
After an employer reports a severe injury, OSHA decides whether to conduct an on-site inspection. Fatalities and amputations typically trigger automatic inspections. For hospitalizations and eye loss events, OSHA may conduct a phone/fax investigation or an on-site inspection based on the circumstances. During an inspection, OSHA compliance officers assess the accident scene, interview witnesses, review safety records, and identify violations. Citations and penalties may be issued. OSHA also works with the employer to abate hazardous conditions. All inspection results are published in OSHA's public inspection database at osha.gov.
You can file an OSHA complaint online at osha.gov/workers/file-complaint, by calling 1-800-321-OSHA (1-800-321-6742), or by visiting your local OSHA area office. Complaints can be filed anonymously. OSHA prioritizes formal written complaints from workers. If you believe an imminent danger exists, call OSHA immediately — they are required to investigate immediately when there is reasonable grounds to believe imminent danger exists. Workers are protected from retaliation for filing complaints under Section 11(c) of the OSH Act; if you experience retaliation, file a separate complaint within 30 days of the adverse action.
About This OSHA Report
This is a severe injury report filed with OSHA. Employers are required to report all work-related fatalities and severe injuries within 8 to 24 hours. Browse more reports by employer, state, or industry below.