OSHA Inspection: W.E, HARKLESS

Issued

Sep 9, 1997

Abate by

Sep 12, 1997

Penalty

Initial $1,500 · Current $1,125 Reduced

General-duty citation text

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 injuries by being run over by a New Holland Skid
Steer Loader that
had been modified by the addition of cables placed over the hydrostatic
control levers to allow
employees to remotely operate the equipment while outside of the vehicle
and not in the
operators position as required by the operator's manual:
a) Under Veterans Bridge;  On or about 4-24-97 an employee was injured
while remotely
operating a New Holland Skid Steer Loader that had been modified by the
addition
of a cable
system to allow employees to operate the Loader while standing outside of
the equipment. The
cables were placed over the hydrostatic control and the employee would
operate by pulling the
cable to engage the deadman type control.
Among other methods, feasible and acceptable methods to correct this
hazard are to:
1. Discontinue use of cables to remotely operate the skid steer loader.
2. Only operate this equipment using fully trained operators seated and at
the controls.