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

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 struck-by hazard due to an unsecured load during a hoisting operation on a monorail crane: a) Maintenance / Repair Garage, 2nd Bay, Building Owned and Managed by Marve Development Corporation, 251 1/2 Grove Avenue, Verona, NJ. Employee, using a monorail crane with a Yale 2 ton hand chain hoist to lift the tailgate of a 1999 Mack dump body truck, was exposed to the hazard of being struck by the load. The load, estimated to be 700 lbs., was not secured and properly balanced prior to being hoisted. Once load was lifted, the unsecured (unlocked) frame of tailgate swung open causing load to shift. Frame of tailgate struck employee who was standing to the side of load at the time it was being moved. This condition was observed on or about 9/25/2009. ABATEMENT NOTE: Among other methods, one feasible and acceptable method to correct this hazard is to: 1: Have the appointed person directing the lift see that the load is well secured and properly balanced and positioned in the sling or lifting device before it is lifted more than a few inches in accordance with ASME B30.11-2004, section 11-3.2.3 Additionally, the load should have been secured by having the tailgate door secured or locked to the frame. This tailgate had the locking mechanism attached. It would be secured in the same manner as when the truck is in transit and the tailgate would be closed and secured.