OSHA Inspection: WASTE MANAGEMENT OF TEXAS, INC.

Issued

Jun 10, 1998

Abate by

Jun 18, 1998

Penalty

Initial $6,300 · Current $3,250 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 hazards of being struck by mobile trash collecting and
compacting vehicles
such as rear loading trash trucks and/or moving parts installed thereon,
in that the employer did
not, in accordance with American National Standards Institute Z
245.1-1992, properly maintain
mobile equipment to meet all applicable regulatory standards and did not
ensure the following
were met:
(a) providing for instruction and training of employees in safe methods of
work before
assigning them to operate, clean, service, maintain, or repair the
equipment:
1) Temporary labor employees did not receive training prior to
route assignment. Among other feasible and useful methods of
abatement for this hazard, one method of abatement would be to
familiarize temporary employees with the manufacturer's operating
manuals and employer's safety program, rather than relying on
drivers to instruct them on the route when they often did not speak
the same language.
(b) monitoring the employee's operation of the equipment and taking
appropriate action
to ensure proper use of the equipment, including adherence to safe
practices:
(1) Route observations conducted were not effective in that unsafe
acts and route conditions such as, but not limited to the following,
were not detected and corrected:
(A) foraging through trash in the dump body.
(B) routinely backing down streets such as 303 N.
Rusk, Cameron Texas.
(C) routinely backing down narrow alleyways and
within 10 feet of hanging wires of undetermined
voltage such as 9th Street in Georgetown, Texas.
(D) riding the back steps while the equipment is in
reverse.
(E) employees manually disconnecting back-up
alarms on truck numbers 356 and 340.
(F) worn "safety" signs on rear-loaders were not
replaced. For example, signs stating: "DANGER -
STAND CLEAR WHEN PACKER PANEL IS IN
MOTION", required to be located on the rear of thepacker panel, were
damaged or missing from truck
numbers 356, 326, 340 and 355.
(G) bent rear steps on truck number 356 were not
repaired prior to 3/2/98.
Among other feasible and useful methods to correct this hazard, one method
would be to
strengthen the route observation program through increasing the frequency
of observations,
targeting stops where the potential for backing is more likely,
remediating hazardous route stops,
strictly enforcing the safety and truck maintenance rules, and promptly
addressing any safety
concerns voiced by employees.
(c) repairing, prior to placing equipment into service, any mechanical
malfunction or
breakdown that affects the safe operation of the equipment, such as:
1) On or about 12/15/97 truck number 340 was kept in service
while awaiting parts for a broken back-up alarm.
(d) ensuring that all riding steps were constructed and maintained in
accordance with
American National Standards Institute Z245.1 -1992, Paragraphs 7.1.10 and
7.2.2.4.
1) for example, riding steps on truck number 356 were installed at
25.5 inches (64.1 cm) to the ground, exposing employees to falls
while mounting and dismounting.
Among other feasible and useful abatement methods to correct these
hazards, one method would
be to replace existing steps with steps which meet the A.N.S.I. Z245.1
1992
design
specifications in Paragraghs 7.1.10 and 7.2.2.4 as follows:
(a) have a slip-resistant surface and be self-cleaning;
(b) be capable of supporting 500 pounds at the point furthest from its
point of attachment;
(c) be mounted no more than 24 inches (60.96 cm) above the road surface;
(d) have a depth of at least eight inches (20.3 cm) and provide a minimum
of 220 square
inches (558.8 square cm) of surface area;
(e) be located behind the rearmost axle of the vehicle, extend no more
than eight inches
beyond the vertical plane that intersects that rearmost structural portion
of the truck or hopper,
and extend no more than eight inches (20.3 cm) inboard of the inside edge
of the hopper opening
as illustrated in figure 11 of the A.N.S.I. standard.

Issued

Jun 10, 1998

Abate by

Jun 17, 1998

Penalty

Initial $1,350

Issued

Jun 10, 1998

Abate by

Jun 17, 1998

Issued

Jun 10, 1998

Abate by

Jun 17, 1998

Issued

Jun 10, 1998

Abate by

Jun 16, 1998

Penalty

Initial $2,250 · Current $800 Reduced

Issued

Jun 10, 1998

Abate by

Jun 18, 1998

Penalty

Initial $4,500