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 to each of his employees employment and a place of employment which were free from recognized hazards that were causing or were likely to cause death or serious physical harm to employees in that employees were exposed to the hazard of crushing injuries from unstable natural stone slabs during slab handling operations: On or about 02/20/04, at the receiving area, employees were exposed to the hazard of being crushed during slab quality checks. Among other methods of abatement, feasible and acceptable methods to prevent this hazard from occurring again are: (a) to enforce the policy in which employees are prohibited from standing in the danger zone of unstable and/or unsecured hand-supported stone slabs; and (b) during stone handling operations employees should lift the slabs utilizing existing mechanical safety devices. When a mechanical below-the-hook lifting device is required to be placed on the slab, the slab should be mechanically stabilized or should be resting at a slight angle between front and back supports while the lifting device (e.g., clamps) is situated. PLEASE NOTE: CERTIFICATION OF ABATEMENT IS REQUIRED FOR THIS VIOLATION.