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 struck-by and crushed-by hazards related to falling or dropped loads or objects during maintenance operations: On October 7, 2004, employees using a roof mounted winch were removing a hydraulic unit from a reciprocating paint line unit and lowering this load to the floor. Three sixteenths inch wire rope from the winch was formed into an eye or eye splice and connected to an eye hook threaded into the top of the hydraulic unit cylinder. A thimble was not used in the formation of the eye or eye splice wire rope termination. An employer fabricated fastener (referred to as the collar) was used to secure the wire rope eye or eye splice. During the removal of the hydraulic unit, as the load was being lowered to the floor, the fastener failed from the wire rope releasing the load. The load struck a paint line employee involved with the task causing serious injuries. Among other means, some feasible and acceptable methods to correct these hazards include; (1)Proper installation of wire rope terminations, such as swaged or poured wire rope sockets, mechanical spliced sleeve, hand tucked loop or thimble spliced, wedge socket, or clips. Installation is to be according to manufacturers guidelines or industry guidelines such as the Wire Rope Users Manual, Wire Rope Technical Board, third edition, pp. 33-44; (2)Proper installation of the appropriate sized thimble to the eye or eye splice to prevent kinking, crushing or other damage to the wire rope. Installation is to be according to manufacturers guidelines or industry guidelines such as the Wire Rope Users Manual, Wire Rope Technical Board, third edition, pp.34-35, 37 and 40; (3)Load testing of wire rope terminations; per manufacturers guidelines or as referenced by the Wire Rope Users Manual, Wire Rope Technical Board, third edition, pp. 37, 40 and 43; (4)Provide training and instructions, conducted by a person knowledgeable in the use of wire rope and rigging for employees required to use and/or install wire rope. Ensure that all inspections, adjustments and repairs are made by trained, designated personnel. Nothing precludes the company from using alternative abatement methods which are equally or more protective for the employee.