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 bing struck or crushed by the Caterpillar 980C wheel loader: Yard Area Adjacent to the Fluff house: Employees were working in the area within the operating range of the Caterpillar 980C wheel loader exposeing them to the potential hazard of being struck or crushed. Also, the loader was not equipped with an operable reverse signal alarm which was distinguishable from the surrounding noise nor did an employee signal that it was safe to operate in the reverse gear. Among other methods, one feasible and acceptable abatement method to correct this hazard is: 1. To provide barricades or portable barriers to prevent vehicular access to areas where employees are working; 2. To sound horn while traveling forward when view is obstructed; 3. To have the loader operators check to be sure that everyone is clear of the path to be traveled; 4. To develop an established planned, traffic-flow procedure to eliminate confusion and convey it to all employees; 5. To provide an operable reverse signal alarm or an employee to guide the operator; and 6. To provide and have employees not operating equipment wear bright orange helmets and orange vests to make them more visible.