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 hazard(s) that were causing or were likely to cause death or serious physical harm to employee(s) in that employee(s) were exposed to struck by or crushing hazards by moving vehicles: a) Refuse collection site at 106 Lexington Ave, Brooklyn - A rear-loading compacting garbage truck (Leach/Mack) was not equipped with a neutral position interlock on the automatic transmission to prevent the transmission from engaging while the throttle was automatically advanced during compacting operations; on or about 12/11/08. Among other methods, some feasible and acceptable abatement methods to correct this hazard are to: 1) As per ANSI Z245.1 entitled Mobile Wastes and Recyclable Materials Collection, Transportation, and Compaction Equipment Safety Requirements, implement a Safety Program which includes a hazard assessment, an evaluation of the means and methods of controlling those hazards, a written program to include operation/inspection/maintenance procedures, prohibited practices, recordkeeping, training requirements, and reference to utilized documents; a program for the implementation of the written program, and periodic reviews/revisions to ensure the effectiveness of the Program; 2) to utilize (and enforce the utilization of) pre and post-trip inspections and to require the immediate removal of faulty equipment; 3) to require that vehicles be put in neutral while collecting or dumping, to train employees in this procedure, and to monitor and enforce this requirement; and/or 4) to install automatic neutral interlocks in all vehicles equipped with automatic transmissions to preclude the use of compacting or other auxiliary equipment when the truck's transmission is in "drive". NOTE: IN ADDITION TO ABATEMENT CERTIFICATION, THE EMPLOYER IS REQUIRED TO SUBMIT ABATEMENT DOCUMENTATION FOR THIS ITEM, FAILURE TO COMPLY WILL RESULT IN AN ADDITIONAL PENALTY OF $ 1,000.00 AS PER 29 CFR 1903.19.