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 a place of employment which was free from recognized hazards which were likely to cause death or serious physical harm to employees in that employees were exposed to hazards associated with improper storage and handling of granite and stone slabs: a) On or about July 21, 2010 and at times prior, employees were exposed to crushed-by and struck-by injuries while they worked around improperly stored granite and stone slabs in the following manner: 1) The employer did not develop and implement a stone slab handling program and effectively train employees in safe procedures for working with and storing slabs. 2) Employees worked with and around slabs on A-frames which were not secured with straps or some other method. Employees worked within the fall shadow of the unsecured slabs while washing them with a sponge. Forklift traffic could have also shifted the unsecured slabs. 3) Employees worked around small stone slabs that were leaning against the outer shop walls and were not secured in any way. These slabs could have slid or been knocked over. Abatement Note: Abatement certification is required for this item (see enclosed "Sample Abatement-Certification Letter"). Among other methods, a feasible and acceptable abatement method to correct the hazards would be to implement the requirements of the Marble Institute of America's "Safety in the Stone Business" technical guide or the OSHA Safety and Health Information Bulletin "Hazards of Transporting, Unloading, Storing and Handling of Granite, Marble and Stone Slabs". Both documents recommend the formation of a plan for stone handling and storage and provide methods which can be utilized to safely handle stone slabs.