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

OSH ACT of 1970 Section (5)(a)(1): 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 The employer is failing to protect employees from potential struck by hazards when working around the drill set of a horizontal directional drill. This most recently occurred on a job site located at NE Corner of Bennet Rd and 190th Street, Bennet, NE 68317, where the employer has employees working with the drill set, such as removing the end cap in preparation of adding additional drill rods, without first ensuring procedures are in place to prevent the unexpected startup of the vermeer D60x90 horizontal directional drill. Among other methods, feasible and acceptable methods of abatement are: 1. The employer shall have the employees trained on the remote lockout device that comes with the Vermeer D60x90 and as it is recommended in operators manual for the Vermeer D60x90, mandate the employees take and utilize the remote lockout device anytime they are on the far side of the drilling process and are going to handle the drill rods that are connected to the drill set. 2. If the remote lockout device is malfunctioning or will not communicate with the drill the employer shall have the exposed employees take the key from the machine with them to the far side of the drilling process while they are going to handle the drill rods that are connected to the drill set.