Text For Citation: 02 Item/Group: 001 Hazard: UNAPOPPROC

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 work in the vicinity of suspended loads while the crane operator is permitted to leave his position at the crane controls: (a) Facility, Fab Shop: On or about February 27, 2007 and continuing, the employer fails to ensure that the operators of the top running bridge, single girder, underhung trolley with one hoist, push button operated cranes remain at their positions when a load was suspended by the cranes. Employees work in the near vicinity of loads suspended from the top running bridge, single girder, underhung trolley cranes while the crane operator is permitted to leave the crane controls to obtain cribbing. A feasible means to correct this hazard would be to institute and enforce a work rule prohibiting this practice in accordance with ASME B30.17-2003, Overhead and Gantry Cranes (Top Running Bridge, Single Girder, Underhung Hoists), Chapter 17-3, Operation, Section 17-3.2 Handling the Load, subsection 17-3.2.3(j) which states, "The operator shall not leave the position at the controls while the load is suspended over an area accessible to people." The employer was previously cited for a violation of this Occupational Safety and Health Administration standard which was contained in Inspection No. 306960584, Citation No. 1, Item No. 1, Issued on 9/9/2004, Pursuant to 29 CFR 1903.19(c) and (d), the employer must provide documentation that this violation has been abated within 10 calendar days of the abatement date.