Text For Citation: 01 Item/Group: 002 Hazard: CRUSHING

North Carolina General Statute 95-129(1) of the Occupational Safety and Health Act of North Carolina: The employer did not furnish to each of his employees conditions of employment and a place of employment free from recognized hazards that were causing or likely to cause death or serious physical harm to employees, in that employees were exposed to crushing hazard: a)Employer failed to provide an adequate hook up procedure which resulted in the death of a hispanic farm worker. Migrant farm workers had been assigned the task of crouching between the truck and the mule train and hooking up the two pieces of farm equipment. While crouching beneath the mule train with the truck backing toward the mule train the migrant farm worker was out of the line of sight of both operators. The migrant farm worker has been tasked to hook the truck to the mule train with a 4 foot metal link chain. While the truck was backing up the worker was required to hook the chain to both the truck and the mule train and then hold the chain in place while the truck drew the chain tight. The hazard exists that any worker in such a position would be crushed between the truck and the mule train. 1.Among other methods one feasible and acceptable method of abatement is to conduct the hook up process in the following manner with the following equipment: Require the mule train driver to stop, the mule train and guide the driver of the truck back into position while all other workers are removed from the area so as to be guarded by location. When the truck driver is in position he should stop the truck, turn it off, engage brakes, and then install the chain over the hooks of the truck and the mule train. Finally, latch kits on all hooks used on the trucks and the mule trains such that the chain remains in place without any worker required to hold or otherwise manipulate the chain when it is being drawn tight.