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

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 crushing injury from unstable natural stone slabs during slab transport operations: a) Employees in the natural stone storage yard were exposed to crushing hazards during slab transport operations. During these transport operations employees were required to tilt up slabs to the vertical balancing position. These slabs, some weighing in excess of 400 pounds, were stored on A-frame racks at a slight (approx. 7$) angle. The employees were then required to balance them vertically by hand while attaching slab tongs (pressure gripping lifters). This was done while standing in front of the slab in the danger zone. On August 6, 1999 an employee was fatally injured by a falling marble slab during a slab transport operation. Among other methods, one feasible and acceptable abatement method to correct this hazard is as follows: a) Institute and enforce a policy in which employees are prohibited from standing in the danger zone of unstable and/or hand-supported stone slabs. b) During stone transport operations employees should lift the slabs to the vertical position from the ends so as to be out of the danger zone should the slab fall. If a mechanical below-the-hook lifting device is required to be placed on the slab, the slab should be mechanically stabilized or should be resting at a slight angle (not hand-supported) against the A-frame rack while the lifting device is situated. A spacer may be inserted behind the slab to be lifted to provide an open space at the top to facilitate insertion of the mechanical lifting device. Abatement Note: Abatement certification and documentation are required for this item (See enclosed "Sample Abatement-Certification Letter").