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 hazards that were causing or likely to cause death or serious physical harm to employees in that employees were exposed to struck-by and crushing hazards from a mobile crane set up and improperly used during tree removal operations. The Operator did not properly deploy the outriggers in a manner required by the manufacturer prior to the lift. On October 05, 2011 the employer was using an Altec AC38-127S mobile crane to remove trees at a homeowner's residence. The Operator set up the crane by deploying three of the four outriggers in the fully extended mode and the fourth (the driver's side front outrigger) was deployed and locked in a half-way position. The boom fully extended in length to complete the lift. When the Cutter finished cutting the section of tree to be lifted, and the Operator began the lift to move the tree section, the entire vehicle lifted off the ground and toppled over. One feasible means of abatement would include, but not be limited to, following the manufacturer's recommendation in the Operator's Manual. Section 3, page 7 states that the outriggers shall be fully extended or deployed per load rating chart specifications.