Text For Citation: 01 Item/Group: 001 Hazard: STRUCK BY

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 being stuck by errant logs during the truck loading process: On or about 08/15/2007, at the Timber Star Southwest Management, LLC timber tract # 5614923003, in the northeast corner of Hempstead County and at times thereto, log truck drivers were observed as they exited the cab of the log truck after the loading process had begun. This practice exposed the drivers to the hazard of being struck by an errant log during the loading process. Note: On the morning of 11/30/2007, a log was observed as it fell from the knuckle boom loaders and landed crosswise in the trailer, protruding from the bed on both sides of the trailer. Among other methods, one feasible and acceptable abatement method to correct this hazard is to establish a company policy that either: (1) requires the driver to remain in the truck's cab until the load out is completed, or (2) requires the driver to exit the truck and move away prior to the loader operator commencing the load out and remain in sight of the loader operator, at least one and one-half to two log lengths away from the truck until the loading is completed.