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: On and prior to May 3, 2000, employees were exposed to serious injuries from straddle buggies traveling without being equipped with the needed mirrors to eliminate blind spots for the operators. On May 3, 2000 an employee was struck by the #26 Clark straddle buggy in bay 4 of the Finishing Unit. The #26 straddle buggy was not properly equipped with the needed outside and convex mirrors to eliminate its blind spots. Also, as of May 3, 2000 none of the Clark straddle buggies were said to be properly equipped. Among other methods, the following are feasible and acceptable methods to minimize the probability of injury during the movement of straddle buggies: 1. Install additional mirrors on straddle trucks to eliminate blind spots. 2. Survey and assess vehicle and pedestrian traffic to eliminate their interaction as much as possible. 3. Add audible forward and reverse warning alarms to the straddle buggies. 4. Add pedestrian walkways as needed in order to effectively separate vehicles from pedestrians. 5. Train all effected employees on the requirements set forth in the procedures and related safety precautions, including the importance of properly positioning one's self in relation to the straddle buggy vehicles. 6. Monitor the condition and need for maintenance or adjustment of the mirrors and alarms. 6. Enforce employee use of the procedures.