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

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 an employee was exposed to the hazard of falling to the ground from the hopper of a sand/salt spreader attached on a dump truck: WORKSITE: On or about 01/24/2011, the employee, standing inside the hopper of the DownEaster sand/salt spreader that was mounted on the bed of a dump truck and trying to loosen the frozen sand/salt with a shovel while the truck was moving was exposed to the hazard of falling approximately eight and one-half (8-1/2) feet to the ground. Among other methods, one feasible and acceptable abatement method is to: 1. Establish and implement procedures associated with loosening up frozen sand/salt in the hopper. 2. Follow the manufacturer's recommendations pertain to the hopper while the truck was in motion. 3. Provide instruction and training to employees in the above procedures as well as the proper and safe use of the equipment.