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

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 a swarm of bees resulting in multiple bee stings: a) On or about August 8 2003, an employee using a bull dozer with a canopy was tasked with clearing brush on the Thompson Ranch when a swarm of bees attacked him after he disturbed a nest that was housed inside a mesquite trunk. The employee was found several hours later by co-workers and by members of the Schleicher County Sheriff's Department with multiple bee stings. Among other methods, one feasible and acceptable abatement method to correct this hazard would be to use a bull dozer or similar equipment with an enclosed cab and a form of communication such as a two way radio. The enclosed cab would protect employees from a swarm of bees and the two way radio would serve as a method of communication in the event of an emergency precluding the need to leave the cab while in remote areas of the ranch. Another abatement method would be to physically survey the field to be cleared for bees' nests using the proper protective clothing and hood to protect employee(s) prior to the commencement of the brush clearing process.