Text For Citation: 01 Item/Group: 002 Hazard: STRUCK BY

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. On or about April 26, 2006 at the construction site of a single family dwelling in Fort Worth, TX, employees operated and/or worked in close proximity to a CASE TF300 Trencher that was not adequately maintained exposing workers to hazards that included, but were not limited to: a)The hazard of being caught in the unguarded moving parts of the equipment, i.e., drive chain, cutting chain and/or the point of operation. b)The CASE TF300 trencher was not equipped with a seat and the seat interlock system which requires the operator to be seated when starting and operating this machine was not functional potentially exposing the user and/or nearby workers to a struck-by hazard of the equipment and/or its attachments. Among other means, some feasible and acceptable methods to correct these hazards are to install guards over exposed rotating parts, replace and/or repair the safety interlock system, and maintaining the equipment as detailed in the tractor's operators manual.