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 injuries: (a) Route 160 Jobsite: There were no barricades provided where a worker was in the area of the metering gate of the "Felco" hopper while positioned between the hopper and the rotating structure of the "Kobelco" excavator while it was in operation. The counterweight of the rotating structure was inadvertently rotated which resulted in the worker being pinched between the hopper and rotating structure. Among other methods, one feasible and acceptable abatement method to correct this hazard is to barricade the area in such a manner as to prevent an employee from being struck or crushed between the hopper and the superstructure of the excavator.