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 does not furnish employment and a place of employment which are free from recognized hazards that are causing or likely to cause death or physical harm to employees in that employees are exposed to struck by hazards: a)This occurred on or about September 8, 2010, at the Seaboard Wellhead, Inc. facility at 13815 South Freeway, Houston Texas, when the employer did not ensure employees unloading a 20 foot long freight container were provided with and utilized proper instructions and equipment to pull palletized equipment from the container. Three employees were exposed to being struck by material handling equipment that was overloaded when the pallet puller was used to move double stacked and banded crates to the rear of the container for removal by a forklift. ABATEMENT NOTES: Among other methods, recognized and feasible means of abatement to correct the hazard include but are not limited to: 1) Ensure that all slings, pallet pullers, chains and other devices used in material handling are inspected and used within the equipments' rated capacity, and ensure that the device with the least rated capacity limits the use of the equipment collectively to that lowest rated capacity when used as one unit. Develop and implement inspection procedures to ensure devices including but not limited to slings, chains and pallet pullers are in safe operating condition. 2) Develop and implement a written operating procedure to ensure employees involved in material handling understand assigned roles, safe positioning, and hazards associated with the process of unloading containers, including the struck-by hazards resulting from the snapback or recoil of slings, chains and equipment under load. 3) Develop and implement safer, alternative methods of removal of palletized cargo from containers when such methods are feasible, develop operating procedures for these alternative methods, and ensure equipment, including loading ramps and dock plates, are provided. Disclaimers: You are not limited to the abatement methods suggested above; 2. The methods explained are general requirements and may not be effective in all cases; 3. The employer is responsible for selecting and carrying out an appropriate and effective method of abatement. Pursuant to 29 CFR 1903.19, within (10) Calendar days of the abatement date of this citation, the employer must submit documentation demonstrating the steps being taken to ensure that equipment capacities are not exceeded, inspections of equipment are conducted, procedures are in place that keep employees out of snapback or recoil areas during unloading, and alternative methods, such as loading ramps and dock plates are available for use and used when feasible.