OSHA Inspection: SCOTT MOBLEY

Issued

Dec 9, 1994

Abate by

Dec 15, 1994

Penalty

Initial $1,500 · Current $1,200 Reduced

General-duty citation text

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 were exposed to:
...... the hazard of being crushed by a rubber-tired wheel skidder, i.e.,
TIMBERJACK 240E, WHILE OPERATING THE SKIDDER AND NOT WEARING THE
SEAT BELT PROVIDED FOR THE OPERATOR; THE TIMBERJACK 240E LOG
SKIDDER WAS PROVIDED WITH BOTH ROPS (ROLL-OVER PROTECTION
STRUCTURE) AND SEAT BELT FOR THE OPERATOR.  ON JULY 28, 1994,
EMPLOYEE WAS OPERATING THE TIMBERJACK 240E LOG SKIDDER WHILE
REMOVING WHOLE LOGS FROM A WOODED AREA, AND THE SKIDDER
OVERTURNED ONTO THAT EMPLOYEE WHO WAS TRAPPED BENEATH THE
ROPS.
AMONG OTHER METHODS, ONE FEASIBLE AND ACCEPTABLE ABATEMENT
METHOD TO CORRECT THIS HAZARD IS TO WEAR THE SEAT BELT PROVIDED
ON THE LOG SKIDDER AT ALL TIMES DURING OPERATION OF THE SKIDDER.
IN ADDITION TO THE ABOVE, THE EMPLOYER SHALL ASSURE THAT EACH
EMPLOYEE IS TRAINED IN THE SAFE OPERATION OF THE TIMBERJACK 240E
LOG SKIDDER AND RELATED SAFETY AND HEALTH HAZARDS IN THE
OVERALL LOGGING OPERATIONS.  AT A MINIMUM, THE TRAINING SHALL
CONSIST OF THE FOLLOWING: SAFE USE, OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE OF
TOOLS, MACHINERY AND VEHICLES THE EMPLOYEE USES/OPERATES,
INCLUDING EMPHASIS ON UNDERSTANDING AND FOLLOWING THE
MANUFACTURER'S OPERATING AND MAINTENANCE INSTRUCTIONS,
WARNINGS, AND PRECAUTIONS;  RECOGNITION OF SAFETY AND HEALTH
HAZARDS ASSOCIATED WITH THE EMPLOYEE'S SPECIFIC WORKS TASKS,
INCLUDING MEASURES TO PREVENT/CONTROL THOSE HAZARDS;
PROCEDURES, PRACTICES, AND REQUIREMENTS OF THE EMPLOYER'S WORK
SITE.
DISCLAIMERS:
1.  THE EMPLOYER IS NOT LIMITED TO THE ABATEMENT METHODS
SUGGESTED BY OSHA.
2.  THE METHODS EXPLAINED ARE GENERAL AND MAY NOT BE EFFECTIVE IN
ALL CASES.
3.  THE EMPLOYER IS RESPONSIBLE FOR SELECTING AND CARRYING OUT AN
APPROPRIATE ABATEMENT METHOD.

Issued

Dec 9, 1994

Abate by

Dec 14, 1994

Penalty

Initial $1,500 · Current $1,200 Reduced