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 a drowning hazard when operating heavy equipment near drop-off edges in unstable soil near bodies of water: a)County Road 640, Mulberry, FL - For employees operating heavy equipment on unstable soil near bodies of water at the former phosphate mine. Employees are exposed to a drowning hazard should the soil break off at a drop-off edge falling into the water along with the piece of equipment. Feasible and acceptable abatement methods, among others, to correct this hazard include: Assess conditions at the outset of each job and establish safe working distances for the operation of heavy equipment from hazards such as but not limited to water in mine cuts and drop-off edges in unstable soil. Inform employees of the hazards, the area in which heavy equipment, such as bulldozers, are not to be operated and visually demarcate the area where the heavy equipment is not to be operated.