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

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: On the East side of the job site, employees were exposed to the movement of the counter weight of a track-hoe after entering the swing radius (immediate surrounding area) of the machine which was not blocked off or guarded to prevent accidental entry into the area. Among other methods, three feasible and acceptable abatement methods to correct this hazard are: 1. The area surrounding the excavator/track hoe can be guarded with a barrier guard attached to the vehicle in such a way that it extends beyond the swinging body/counter weight preventing entry of workers to this radius of the machine. 2. Barricade a designated portion of the working area of the roadway where the track hoe will be working making the area "off limits" to personnel. 3. Use of a safety monitor designated to monitor the immediate area around the track hoe while in operation. If this method is to be used additional training of both designated safety monitor and potentially exposed employees would be required.