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 hazards of being struck by concrete slabs in that: a) On or about 08/26/03, in the slab yard, two employees were inventorying slabs. The slabs were on stands in the yard which held 6-8 slabs of Granite at an angle of approximately 83 degrees. The employees would move each slab to an angle of approximately 90 degrees and read the invoice tag on the slab behind. One employee was tasked to hold the slabs at 90 degrees while the other employee read the invoice tags. The employee was holding 4-6 slabs at approximately 90 degrees when the slabs moved beyond 90 degrees, crushing him. Among other methods, one feasible and acceptable abatement method to correct the hazard would be to use a slab restraint system that would prevent the slabs from moving beyond 90 degrees.