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 crushing and impact injuries from livestock: a.On or about February 23, 2005, employees were exposed to being injured by cattle being herded to and from the sales arena area. An employee was working in the area of Pen #32, holding a gate in the open position instead of locking the gate in the open position, awaiting the arrival of cattle to be herded into the pen after their sale. The cow struck the gate being held by an employee, resulting in the employee sustaining head-related injuries. One feasible and acceptable method of abatement would be to enforce the use of latching the gates as the cattle are herded around the facility, or develop a gate stopping device that would prevent the gate from traveling beyond the 90 degree angle from the closed position, creating a fixed barrier between the employee and livestock. ABATEMENT CERTIFICATION IS REQUIRED.