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 the West side of the job site, an employee was exposed to the hazard of being struck by the excavator bucket as a result of the bucket becoming detached from the excavator arm. Among other methods, three feasible and acceptable abatement methods to correct this hazard are: 1. Always follow the coupler manufactures recommended method of attaching the bucket and engaging the provided safety latch pin after each bucket change. 2. Never permit employees to work around or near the back-hoe bucket. 3. Train operators and labors to check the engagement of the safety latch pin every time a bucket change is made on any site.