OSHA Inspection: RICHARDS CORPORATION

Issued

May 20, 2011

Abate by

May 25, 2011

Penalty

Initial $5,390 · Current $4,300 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 an employee
was exposed to the hazard of falling to the ground from the hopper of a
sand/salt spreader
attached on a dump truck:
WORKSITE: On or about 01/24/2011, the employee, standing inside the hopper
of the
DownEaster sand/salt spreader that was mounted on the bed of a dump truck
and trying to
loosen the frozen sand/salt with a shovel while the truck was moving was
exposed to the hazard
of falling approximately eight and one-half (8-1/2) feet to the ground.
Among other methods, one feasible and acceptable abatement method is to:
1. Establish and implement procedures associated with loosening up frozen
sand/salt in the
hopper.
2. Follow the manufacturer's recommendations pertain to the hopper while
the truck was in
motion.
3. Provide instruction and training to employees in the above procedures
as well as the proper
and safe use of the equipment.