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 likely to cause death or serious physical harm to the employees in that employees were exposed to struck by hazards: a.Recycle yard - An employee, working within the swing arc of the excavator, was struck and crushed when the operator swung the excavator. The swing arc of the excavator was not barricaded, and other means were not provided to prevent entry into the swing arc of the counter weight, as determined on 01/18/08. NOTE: Among other methods, one or more feasible and acceptable abatement methods to correct this hazard would be to establish and to enforce accepted safe practices by a) ensuring the excavator operator locates all employees prior to rotating excavator, b) ensure the path of travel is clear before rotating the excavator, c) use a spotter or ground guide when operating excavator in proximity to employees working in cutting area, d) barricade swing arc area behind excavator, e) barricade cutting area from the roadway, f) relocate cutting area farther away from the roadway.