Text For Citation: 01 Item/Group: 002 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: Employees were exposed to crushing, amputation and possible death from the hazards associated with the operation of a rubber mill or cracker. The mill and emergency trip wire was not positioned in such a manner as to preserve hands and arms from being caught in the cracker while hand feeding the machine. Feasible and acceptable means to abate this problem is to raise the unit so that the cracker is higher off the floor thus preventing easy access. Provide a conveyor feed (commonly used) to remove the employee from close proximity and/or provide hand tools for feeding. Lace the emergency cable across the face of the rolls so the body would provide pressure on the cable from any position or place a restraint bar behind the mill and require employees to be tethered to the fixed restraint. A pressure sensitive shut-off bar shall also be added.