OSHA Inspection: NEW ENGLAND INDUSTRIAL TRUCK INCORPORATED

Issued

Oct 2, 2007

Abate by

Nov 6, 2007

Penalty

Initial $1,750 · 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 struck/hit
by tire rim wheels:
Shop:  The employer did not ensure through not only establishing and
implementing a safe servicing/operating
procedure, but also visual observation, direct instruction and training
that employees were following the
"procedure" and using appropriate protective cages/devices during
servicing tire rim wheels.
On or about July 6, 2007,  a 2-piece tire rim wheel, held by bolts came
apart while an employee was
attempting to inflate the tire of the wheel assemble and struck the
employee. The employee sustained severe
injuries from the incident.
Among other methods, one feasible and acceptable abatement method to
correct this hazard is to:
1. First tighten the rim bolts and nuts to the correct torque(pounds per
foot) utilizing a torque wrench in
accordance with the Nissan Forklift Service Manual(part number
SM3EK-H12G0).
2. Inflating the tires on the wheel/rim assembles to the correct air
pressures in accordance with the Nissan
Forklift owner's manual for Model H01, H02 Series (Publication No.
OM2Z-H012G1).
3. Have the employees inflate the bolt-together, divided wheels inside a
protective cage/restraining device
utilizing the correct tire pressure.