OSHA Inspection: GARTH WOODS OWNERS CORP.

Issued

Apr 12, 1999

Abate by

Apr 22, 1999

Penalty

Initial $1,500 · Current $1,000 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 between the moving platen and
the stationary parts
of the compactor:
LOCATION:Garth Woods Cooperative Apartments
235 Garth Road
Scarsdale, NY
Essex Building North
Essex Building South
The Bedford Building
The Carlyle Building
On or about 3/12/99
a) Employees were exposed to the hazard of being crushed between the
moving ram and the
stationary parts of the vertical compactor  during maintenance, cleaning,
servicing,and repairing
the equipment. The employer failed to develop and implement standard
operating procedures
(SOP) on compactors; failed to instruct employees working with compactors
in the safe methods
of work; the controls on the compactor were not labeled; an emergency stop
button was not
provided and a sign was not provided on the compactors hopper door warning
employees to
ensure compactor switch was off prior to opening the door.
AMONG OTHER METHODS, ONE FEASIBLE AND ACCEPTABLE ABATEMENT
METHOD TO CORRECT THIS HAZARD IS TO IMPLEMENT THE FOLLOWING:
a) Develop and implement standard operating procedures (SOP) on the safe
work
practices to
be followed by all employees while working on the compactors
b) Provide training to all employees working on compactors in the safe
methods of work to be
followed before assigning them to operate, clean, service, maintain, or
repair the equipment.
Such training shall include procedures provided by the manufacturer. The
employer shall also
maintain records and the dates of training, and monitor the employees
operation to ensure
employees adhere to the SOP
c) Label each control on the compactors conspicuously as to its function
d) Install emergency stop controls on all compactors. The controls should
be located within 3
feet of the point of operation.
e) Post a sign on each compactor charging hopper door access that states:
"CAUTION-BEFORE
OPENING DOOR, TURN CONTROL PANEL KEY SWITCH TO OFF POSITION, REMOVE
KEY, AND BLOCK OFF TRASH CHUTE"- for examples of alternate wording consult
the
American National Standards Institute, ANSI Z245.2 1992; and
NOTE: The employer is required to submit abatement certification for this
item in accordance
with 29 CFR 1903.19.

Issued

Apr 12, 1999

Abate by

May 14, 1999

Penalty

Initial $1,500 · Current $1,000 Reduced

Issued

Apr 12, 1999

Abate by

May 14, 1999

Issued

Apr 12, 1999

Abate by

May 14, 1999

Issued

Apr 12, 1999

Abate by

May 14, 1999