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 struck-by or crushing hazards when they were using an OTC 10 ton air jack with safety chains that jam: Location:2000 Washington Street, Roxbury, MA 49 Industrial Road, Hyde Park, MA On or about April 18, 2006, an OTC 10 ton air jack was modified when a Service Manager ran a safety chain through two holes in the body weldment of the air jack and attached the hooks on either end of the chain to the top of the jack. The chain became jammed between the pivot stop and the stand assembly and prevented the jack from moving in either direction. While trying to clear the jam, an employee was struck by the falling jack and suffered a broken pelvis. Among other methods, one feasible and acceptable method to correct this hazard would be to ensure that before any modification or addition to existing or new equipment is made, (e.g. the addition of safety chains to an air jack) steps including but not limited to the following should be taken: Contact the manufacturer of the equipment to get written approval for the change. Only if the manufacturer approves the modification or addition, then: 1)Work with the manufacturer to determine if the change will affect the use of the equipment in any way (e.g. capacity, operating procedures, maintenance procedures, etc.); 2)Incorporate the changes into the training program for the equipment; 3)Ensure that all employees who use or will be using the equipment are trained in the above items prior to using the equpment after a change has been made.