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

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 serious fall hazards as a result of working from the elevated forks of a skid steer. On 9-17-09, an employee fell approximately 6 feet while standing on the elevated forks of a John Deere JD 250 skid steer while attempting to lower a pallet jack from the garage loft, and sustained a serious injury. The employee was not adequately protected from a fall while performing this task. Among other methods, feasible and acceptable abatement methods could include, but are not limited to: a) The manufacturers Operator's Manual for the skid steer states on page 5, "Do not use a bucket or attachment as a work platform or for carrying people. b) The Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM) Skid Steer Safety Manual states on page 21, "Never use the bucket, forks, or other attachments for a work platform or personnel carrier." "ABATEMENT DOCUMENTATION IS REQUIRED FOR THIS ITEM"