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 crushing hazards. a)On or about March 22, 1996, in the course of refuse and other material handling operations, employees were exposed to the hazard of being struck or crushed by material handling equipment. One employee working outside the North wall of the plant building, below the HRB-2 conveyor area, was crushed between a 56 cubic yard steel refuse container and a wall as the container was being pushed along by a front end loader. ABATEMENT NOTE: Among others, a feasible method to eliminate or to materially reduce this hazard is to: (a) Initiate a procedure which ensures that no persons are between the refuse container and the wall and any other danger areas that are out of sight of the loader operator, and; (b) Provide a device which will physically prevent containers from being pushed against, or into close proximity to the wall such that a squeeze point will exist.