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

21 VSA Title 23, Chapter 3, Sub-chapter 5, Section 223 (a), Section 5 (a) (1) of the Occupational Safety & 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 hazards associated with fork lift tip overs. Location: Motorized Equipment Maintenance Shop Violation: The employer did not furnish each of the employees employment and a place of employment which are free from recognized hazards in that an employee was exposed to the hazards of crushing injuries related to fork lift tip and roll overs due to the lack of use of the fork lift safety seat belt while operating the yellow 1988 Hyster Fork Truck, internal equipment number 75-0067, during the time while aiding assistance in the investigation with company officials, equipment manufacturers and State Investigators during the investigation of the fatal incident that occurred in the Motorized Equipment Maintenance Shop. Among other methods, feasible and acceptable methods to correct the hazards include but not limited to: (a) a hazard assessment and/or pre-inspection procedure that will evaluate a safe operation that includes but not limited to a check list prior to operating the fork lift to identify safety deficiencies; (b) replacement or repair of the seatbelt; (c) re-training of personnel who operate powered industrial equipment in the safety procedures and safe operations that include wearing seatbelts when operating the fork lift and reporting missing parts or deficiencies.