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 hazard of crushing injury from unstable natural stone slabs while connecting them to the pressure gripping lifter: (a)Marble Empire at 2032 Welton St., Denver, CO 80205: The employer did not ensure that proper slab handling techniques were used to protect employees from crushing hazards when removing or positioning the slabs. The employees are required to tilt slab weighing approximately 600 pounds to the vertical to attach the pressure gripping lifter. This condition exposed the employees to a crushing hazard. Abatement Note: Among other methods, one feasible and acceptable abatement method to correct this hazard is to: (a)Institute and enforce a policy in which employees are prohibited from standing or putting any portion of their body in the danger zone of unsupported slabs. (b)Conduct employee training of safe slab handling procedures to ensure they fully understand the dangers of putting any portion of their body between unsupported slabs, and the safe methods of maneuvering slabs. Abatement Note: Abatement certification and documentation are required for this item (see enclosed "Sample Abatement-Certification Letter").-Certification