Text For Citation: 01 Item/Group: 001 Hazard: STRUCK BY

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 hazards associated with various types of moving, mobile farm equipment: On 5 June 2006, and at other times prior thereto, the employer permitted hazardous conditions to exist during watermelon harvesting. The employer did not ensure the crew members engaged in harvesting watermelons were protected against fall hazards and struck-by hazards while working on and around farm equipment. A. The crew harvesting watermelons were permitted to ride the loaded watermelon trailers returning from the fields to the warehouse/packing shed. When the crew rode on top of the harvested watermelons, which had been loaded onto the trailer, the side rails containing the watermelons were lower than the employees. The crew was exposed to being thrown off of the trailer and being struck by the trailer or run over by the trailer. B. The employer did not develop a procedure by which the watermelon harvesting crew members were provided with training and appropriate warnings about hazardous conditions such as, but not limited to, working on and around moving, mobile farm equipment. Among other methods of abatement, one feasible and acceptable abatement method to correct this hazard would be to develop procedures by which the employer instructs employees not to ride on trailers or wagons loaded with harvested crops and to train and educate employees to recognize the hazards of riding on top of harvested crops loaded onto a trailer or wagon.r