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 recogn ized hazards that were causing or likely to cause death or serious physical harm to employees in that employees were exposed to amputation, struck by and crushe d by hazards, while guiding a suspended loaded by hand. a) Miramar National Ceme tery - On or about 06MAY11, An employee suffered an amputation injury when the b urial crypt he was guiding by hand slipped in its wire rope basket hitch, the wi re rope left the grooves cut into the corner of the burial crypt, the employee's hand was positioned above the basket hitch on the suspended load, the burial cr ypt slipped down approximately eight inches before the wire rope hitch caught it , the employee's left hand was caught by the wire rope at his left thumb, amputa ting the thumb. Among other methods, feasible and acceptable methods to correct this hazard is t o: (1) Follow the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME B30.9-1996, Sli ngs) Safety Standard for Cableways, Cranes, Derricks, Hoists, Hooks, Jacks, and Slings, Section 9-2.9: Operating Practices, which states: (h) Portions of the hu man body should be kept from between the sling and the load and from between sli ng and the crane hook or hoist hook. (i) Personnel should stand clear of the sus pended load (r) The sling's legs should contain or support the load so that the load remains under control. (2) Follow 29 CFR 1910.184(c)(6) Slings shall be sec urely attached to their loads. (3) Reject burial vaults with manufacturer flaws that can affect the stability of the suspended load.