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

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 being crushed by natural stone slabs during the manual handling of the slabs: OR IN THE ALTERNATIVE: 29 CFR 1910.176(b): Material stored in tiers was not stacked, blocked, interlocked or limited in height so that it was stable and secure against sliding and collapse: a. Shop - On or about 05/04/2007, employees were exposed to the hazard of being crushed by sheets of marble and granite while handling the slabs which were stored in "A" frame racks and were not secured. Among other methods, feasible and acceptable abatement methods to correct this hazard is to: (1) Institute and enforcement policy in which employees are required to fix the straps to the slabs when not in use. (2) Support the slabs with heavy nylon straps wrapped around the entire "A" frame rack until the slab is securely supported with the mechanical lifting device. (3) Increase the distance between the racks to account for size of the slabs held in the rack. (4) Have the "A" frame racks use an angled base sufficient to maintain an appropriate angle of the slabs to prevent tip over. Abatement certification is required within 10 days after the abatement date. The certification shall include a statement that abatement is complete, the date and the method of abatement, and a statement indicating employees and their representatives were informed of this abatement.tives