UPS worker killed by falling boxes while loading trailer

A 43-year-old woman was crushed and killed by falling boxes while working in a trailer at the UPS warehouse in Richmond, California last week.

According to a preliminary police investigation, UPS employee Shelma Reyna was loading packages into a trailer on Sept. 21 when several packages fell onto her. She was alone inside the trailer at the time. A co-worker later discovered Reyna and immediately called 911.

Despite life-saving efforts by first responders, Reyna was pronounced dead at the scene. The police are investigating this incident as an industrial accident.

The accident is also currently under investigation by Cal/OSHA, the California division of OSHA. Teamsters Local 315 union said it too is working with investigators to determine what happened.

Cal/OSHA said in a Sept. 23 statement it has up to six months to issue citations if any violations of workplace safety regulations are identified.

Reyna is survived by five children. Her family has set up a GoFundMe page to help pay for funeral expenses.

Package conveyor may have been involved

The family’s GoFundMe page said Reyna was killed by a malfunctioning machine. Family members said Reyna had worked at the warehouse for about one year.

Jaxon Van Derbeken, NBC Bay Area investigative reporter, said Cal/OSHA’s preliminary investigation indicates a package loading machine may have been involved in the incident. Union representatives told the victim’s son that there may have been as many as five prior incidents involving this type of machinery, including broken limbs.

On social media, people who identified themselves as workers in the area of the accident said that the extendable conveyor at trailer door 89 where the incident occurred “has been malfunctioning for some time.”

Police requested surveillance video, autopsy

Local news station KTVU reported police said they spoke with the shift supervisor at the UPS warehouse at 1601 Atlas Road and requested the company share any relevant surveillance footage that is stored off-site.

"The initial reports show the employee was in the container alone," said Lt. Donald Patchin, Richmond Police Department spokesperson. "Officers were looking for video. I don't know if any was found and they were going to interview witnesses."

UPS released a statement on the incident:

“We are deeply saddened by the passing of one of our team members. Our thoughts are with their family, friends and colleagues during this difficult time. We are cooperating fully with the authorities to understand what happened and defer additional questions to them.”

Police said investigators also are waiting for autopsy results to determine the time and cause of Reyna's death.

Family members say they've heard from other UPS workers that Reyna might have been in the container for up to four hours before she was found by another employee.

Patchin said investigators will determine whether there was any crime such as gross negligence. If there is no evidence of a crime, then Cal/OSHA will continue investigating.

"They would be the lead agency as far as whether there were any protocols, safety concerns that were not followed," Patchin said. "They would be the ones investigating that part of it."

Teamsters Local 315 working with Cal/OSHA during investigation

Teamsters Local 315 issued a statement on Facebook and its website:

“The International Union remains in close contact with the affiliate local as a formal investigation remains ongoing. ... The Teamsters Union understands that Cal/OSHA, the California Department of Industrial Relations, is actively investigating the tragic incident, which occurred during the sort and loading of a trailer at the Richmond North Bay facility.”

“On behalf of 1.3 million hardworking Teamsters, our General Executive Board, and 340,000 essential Teamsters at UPS, the entire International Brotherhood of Teamsters sends our deepest condolences and love to the family of our dear sister in California,” said Sean M. O’Brien, Teamsters general president.

“Teamsters Local 315 is diligently working with Cal/OSHA and the Sheriffs’ Department to find out the true cause of this incident and to make sure our Teamsters members are all protected,” said Alberto Ruiz, Local 315 president. "Our condolences go out to her family.”

UPS still yet to deliver on 2023 safety promises

In 2023, the Teamsters Union and UPS negotiated an agreement to avoid a strike for improved wages and safety reforms.

The 2023-2028 UPS Teamsters National Agreement included dozens of safety and health protections. UPS said it would improve heat protection for drivers:

• Equip in-cab air conditioning in all larger delivery vehicles, sprinter vans, and package cars purchased after Jan. 1, 2024
• Retrofit all 28,000 package cars with two fans, heat exhaust shields, and air induction vents in the cargo compartments by 2028

As of July, the International Brotherhood of Teamsters said UPS has yet to fulfil its contractual obligations to improve safety. The Union estimated only 10% of required vehicles had been equipped with air conditioners, and also asked for more details about forced overtime abuses.