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 a skid-steer unit while it traveled in reverse direction: a. an employee working in close proximity to a Caterpillar Loader operating in reverse was exposed to potential crushing injuries. Location: Seven Eagles Lane worksite. On September 9, 2004, an employee operating a Caterpillar Loader 287 in the reverse direction traveled into an area occupied by another employee, striking the employee. Among other methods, one feasible and acceptable abatement method to correct this hazard would be to train the operator(s) in all aspects of the Caterpillar Operation and Maintenance Manual and the safe operating procedures adopted into the employer's operator training program (NIOSH Alert, Preventing Injuries and Deaths from Skid Steer Loaders, DHHS (NIOSH) Publication No. 98-117) and implement/enforce the safe operating procedures, such as, not operating the equipment until the area has been cleared and always face the direction of travel.