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

Section 5(a)(1) of the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970: The employer fails to furnish employment and a place of employment free from recognized hazards causing or likely to cause death or serious physical harm to employees in that employees are being exposed to crushing and/or struck by hazards. The employer fails to ensure that the safety latches on the container lifting hooks are maintained and in good working order. In the event of hook disengagement from the container attachment point, the container can fall or swing towards the operator. This violation was most recently observed on November 15, 2007, where the container lifting hook safety latch was absent on the mobile refuse collection vehicle, Vin #1M1H147YXFMOO1256. AMONG OTHER METHODS, ONE FEASIBLE AND ACCEPTABLE ABATEMENT METHOD TO CORRECT THIS HAZARD IS: (a) Repair and/or replace container lifting hook safety latches on all trucks in accordance with ANSI Z245.1-1999 Section 7.3.2.5.1.(b), and, (b) Initiate a vehicle inspection program to identify and correct any safety equipment deficiencies on the refuse collection vehicles per ANSI Z245.1-1999 Section 6.1.5.(c) Abatement certification and abatement documentation is required for this violation. The documentation should include written verification of abatement, applicable measurements or monitoring results, and photographs or videos which you believe will be helpful. The abatement certification sheet is enclosed with the citations.