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 employmnent 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 possible falls and possible crushing injuries when placed into and taken out of a deep and hazardous excavation. An employee was exposed to possible fall injuries, struck-by injuries and crushing injuries when placed in and then lifted out of a 21' deep excavation in the bucket of a Caterpiller track hoe. The employee could have fallen out of the bucket and into the mud and standing water in the base of the excavation, or crushed against the side of the pit while standing on the bucket or been struck by the clay that was spalling off of the sides of the excavation and crashing down the side into the water 21' below. Feasible and acceptable means to correct the hazard(s) could include compliance with the Construction Industry Manufacturers Association (CIMA): Section 16, "Never allow anyone to ride the attachment or the load". Among other methods, feasible and acceptable means to correct the hazard(s) could include compliance with the provisions of 29 CFR 1926.652(c)(4)(i) which requires a design be provided from a registered professional engineer when the excavation is in excess of 20' in depth.