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

North Carolina General Statute 95-129(1) of the Occupational Safety and Health Act of North Carolina: The employer did not furnish each of his employees conditions of employment and a place of employment 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 hazards asphyxiation, being struck by flying chips and/or branches and potential hearing loss in that: Basket Production Building - The employer allowed employees to operate a gasoline-powered wood chipper indoors exposing the operator and employees in the area to potential inhalation of carbon monoxide fumes; the operator and employees in the area were exposed to potential hearing loss due to the noise of the chipper; employees in the area were exposed to being struck by tree chips and branches ejected from the chipper; the operator was exposed to the potential of being pulled into the chipper as a result of insufficient room in which to safely operate the equipment. Among others, one feasible and acceptable means of abatement would be to follow manufacturer's instructions to use chipper outdoors, provide suitable hearing protection, set up an operator only zone to prevent other employees from access to the work zone and to provide operator sufficient room n which to position himself safely in relation to the chipper.