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 hazard of crushing between the rail car and a front-end loader or death: FACILITY 1. The employer did not ensure through not only establishing and implementing a safe operating procedure, but also through visual observation, direct instruction and training that employees required to hook up a chain sling between a rail car and a front-end loader while standing in between them in order to pull the rail car were free from the hazards listed above. On or about 12/05/2007, an employee/an operator of the Caterpillar front-end loader, model 980C, product ID 63X08518, Company number 2, was hit by the loader and crushed against the rail car while performing the above task. The employee sustained multiple severe injuries from the incident. Among other methods, one feasible and acceptable method to correct the hazard is to: 1. Utilize an equipment designed to safely pull rail box cars. 2. Conduct a hazard assessment of the work process. 3. Establish and implement safe procedures for the movement and placement of the rail cars. 4. Train employees in the safe procedures. 5. Utilize other engineering technology.