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 to each of his employees a place of employment which was 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 conditions listed below: Drainage canal construction project between Houma, Pasedena, Girard and Caldwell Streets, Metairie LA. On or about 25 Feb 99, the employer did not verify and assure that all equipment operators working at the construction site were qualified in the operation of boom type crawler cranes located on site. This condition exposed employees and other site personnel to the hazards and injuries related to being struck by loads being moved. According to ASME B30.5a-1995 addendum to ASME B30.5-1994 "Mobile and Locomotive Cranes" Chapter 5-3: "5-3.1.2 Qualifications for Operators. Operators shall be required to successfully meet the qualifications for the specific type crane which they are operating... (b) Operator requirements shall include, but not be limited to, the following: (1) evidence of successfully passing a physical examination as defined in para. 5- 3.1.2(a); (2) satisfactory completion of a written examination covering operational characteristics, controls, and emergency control skills such as response to: fire, power line contact, loss of stability, or control malfunction, as well as characteristic and performance questions appropriate to the crane type for which the qualification is sought; (3) operators shall demonstrate their ability to read, write, comprehend and exhibit arithmetic skills and load/capacity usage, in the language of the crane manufacturer's operation and maintenance instruction manuals; (4) satisfactory completion of a combination written and verbal test on load/capacity chart usage that covers a selection of the configurations (that the crane may be equipped to handle) for the type of crane for which the qualification is being sought; (5) Completing an operation test demonstrating proficiency in handling the specific type crane, including both pre-start and post-start inspection, maneuvering skills, shutdown, and securing procedures; (6) operators shall demonstrate understanding of the applicable sections of the B30 Standard and federal, state and local requirements." Among other methods, one feasible and acceptable abatement method to correct this hazard is that the employer should require all subcontractors who operate equipment at the GC's construction sites to provide certification of training of each operator for each piece of equipment to be used and to require each operator to demonstrate competancy to the site superintendant for each specific piece of equipment.