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 the hazards of being struck by, crushed by, or thrown from moving railroad cars: a) When moving railroad cars on the inclined north spur by gravity, provisions were not taken to ensure that all employees were out of the travel path of cars being moved. Among other methods, one feasible and acceptable abatement method to correct this hazard is to establish written standard operating procedure which would include, at a minimum, the following provisions: 1) Training of employees in both the hazards involved and the correct operating procedure; 2) Constant direct visual and/or audible communications between employees on the same track during car movement; 3) Wheel chocking; 4) Testing of hand brakes before release of air brakes; 5) Prohibition of employees from being on positioned cars or on the track between the car being moved and the end of the spur; 6) Use of a track flagging system when employees are permitted on cars.