Text For Citation: 01 Item/Group: 001 Hazard: CRUSHING

Section 5(a)(1) of the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970: The employer did not furnish employmnent 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 crushing hazards: a) Loading Dock Area - A flatbed manual cart loaded with boxes of medical files was being pulled down a ramp by an employee. When the employee lost control of the cart he was crushed between the concrete pillar at the end of the ramp and the cart on or about 14 Jan 05. Among one feasible and acceptable abatement method to correct this hazard is to use a scissors lift or fork lift to get the boxes from the top of the ramp to the bottom of the ramp. Accident Prevention Manual, National Safety Council, Eleventh Edition, Hand Trucks section, "The type of hand truck most suitable for the work at hand should be used. No one hand truck is suitable for handling all types of material. Four-Wheeled Trucks or Carts should be pushed rather than pulled. Also that two workers should move the vehicle - one to guide the front, the other to guide the back." Before any employee is permitted to use any type of material handling equipment they should be trained to use it correctly. Abatement certification required within 10 days after abatement date. The certification shall include a statement that abatement is complete, date and method of abatement, and states employees and their representatives were informed of this abatement.