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

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 crushing injuries or death from being struck by falling or swinging loads during the removal and setting of telephone poles: (a) Lloyd Avenue, Latrobe PA job site: On or about 10/01/04 an employee placed the single leg, steel alloy chain sling in a choker configuration around the telephone pole. This configuration could cause the chain to break with great force causing serious injury or death from flying chain parts and falling loads. (b) Lloyd Avenue, Latrobe, PA jobsite: On or about 10/01/04 an employee was assisting the lifting device by pushing on the butt end on the 38 foot long telephone pole while operator was attempting to lower the pole to the ground. This action contributed to the pole being inadvertently disengaged from the guide tongs. Among other methods, one feasible and acceptable means to correct these hazards is to comply with the requirements outlined in the "Altec" D 945/947 Operator's Manual" Altec Industries Inc. copyright 2001.