Text For Citation: 01 Item/Group: 001 Hazard: CRUSHING

Section 5(a)(1) of the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970: The employer did not furnish employment and a place of employment which were free from recognized hazards that were causing or likely to cause death or serious physical harm to employees in that employees were exposed to hazard of being crushed by falling ice and coils: a) due to excessive build-up of ice on overhead brine-cooling coils (10 - 16 inches) overloaded the support structure exposing employees chipping/removing ice from the overhead coils with picks, on or about May 1, 1990. Among other methods, one feasible and acceptable abatement method to correct this hazard is to establish a service and maintenance program consisting of frequent and regular inspection of brine-cooling coil structure, and establish procedures for defrosting the coils to prevent excessive ice build-up. If performed at regular scheduled intervals the length of defrosting time would be minimal and ice build-up reduced.