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 fall hazards, impalement hazards, and crush hazards from riding on the exterior catwalk of a material handler. (a)PSC Metals, Inc., 800 Infirmary Road, Elyria, Ohio: On or about August 12, 2009, the employer did not ensure that an employee who was learning to operate a Caterpillar 325C material handler did not ride on the catwalk located on the exterior of the material handler. The employee riding on the catwalk while learning to operate the handler and while the handler was operating was at risk of serious injury if the employee fell from the catwalk. The employee could have been injured from the fall, could have been impaled if the employee fell on to the scrap metal present in the yard, and could have been crushed by the tracks of the handler. Among other methods, a feasible abatement method to correct this hazard is to ensure that personnel operate the material handler in compliance with the Machine Operation section of the owner's manual and with the requirements set forth in the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) B30.25-2007, Scrap and Material Handlers, Section 25-3.2.4 Personnel. In accordance with 29 CFR 1903.19(d), abatement certification is required for this violation (using the CERTIFICATION OF CORRECTIVE ACTION WORKSHEET), and in addition, documentation demonstrating that abatement is complete must be included with your certification. This documentation may include, but is not limited to, evidence of the purchase or repair of the equipment, photographic or video evidence of abatement, or other written records.