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

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 getting caught in the moving parts of a Bandit 1590 chipper: location: 2969 Springhurst St. on or about: 5/15/08 a) Employees were operating a Bandit 1590 chipper. The employees used their feet to push branches into the chipper. Among other methods, feasible and acceptable abatement methods to correct this hazard are: 1. Follow ANSI Z133.1 2006, 8.6.11 which states: 'Hands or other parts of the body shall not be placed into the infeed hopper. Leaning into or pushing material into infeed hoppers with feet is prohibited.' 2. Follow the instructions stated in the Bandit Industries safety book which states: a) 'DO NOT reach or kick into the infeed hopper under any circumstances!' b) 'The operators manual, video and decals (located several places on chipper) state; "never put feet or hands into the infeed hopper for any reason"' and c) 'There have been several accidents that involved foot amputations, leg amputations and death as a result of operators kicking into the infeed hopper of the chipper. Brush Chippers are designed to be operated with hands placing the material into the chipper - NOT FEET! If the operator kicks the material that has become lodged or is not going into the feed wheels, he or she is placing themselves in extreme danger. If the wood does free up and goes into the feed wheels, the operator can be thrown off balance. NEVER KICK OR PLACE A FOOT IN THE CHIPPER INFEED HOPPER!' NOTE: Because abatement of this violation is already documented in the inspection case file, the employer need not submit certification or documentation of abatement for this violation as normally required by 29 CFR 1903.19.