OSHA Inspection: CIRCLE INC

Issued

Jul 29, 1999

Abate by

Aug 24, 1999

Penalty

Initial $525 · Current $315 Reduced

General-duty citation text

Section 5(a)(1) of the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970:  The
employer did not
furnish to each of his employees a place of employment which was 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 conditions listed below:
Drainage canal construction project between Houma, Pasedena, Girard and
Caldwell Streets,
Metairie LA. On or about 25 Feb 99, the employer did not verify and assure
that all equipment
operators working at the construction site were qualified in the operation
of boom type crawler
cranes located on site. This condition exposed employees and other site
personnel to the hazards
and injuries related to being struck by loads being moved.
According to ASME B30.5a-1995 addendum to ASME B30.5-1994 "Mobile and
Locomotive
Cranes" Chapter 5-3:
"5-3.1.2 Qualifications for Operators. Operators shall be required to
successfully
meet the
qualifications for the specific type crane which they are operating...
(b) Operator requirements shall include, but not be limited to, the
following:
(1) evidence of successfully passing a physical examination as defined in
para. 5-
3.1.2(a);
(2) satisfactory completion of a written examination covering operational
characteristics, controls, and emergency control skills such as response
to: fire,
power line contact, loss of stability, or control malfunction, as well as
characteristic and performance questions appropriate to the crane type for
which
the qualification is sought;
(3) operators shall demonstrate their ability to read, write, comprehend
and
exhibit arithmetic skills and load/capacity usage, in the language of the
crane
manufacturer's operation and maintenance instruction manuals;
(4) satisfactory completion of a combination written and verbal test on
load/capacity chart usage that covers a selection of the configurations
(that the
crane may be equipped to handle) for the type of crane for which the
qualification
is being sought;
(5) Completing an operation test demonstrating proficiency in handling the
specific type crane, including both pre-start and post-start inspection,
maneuvering skills, shutdown, and securing procedures;
(6) operators shall demonstrate understanding of the applicable sections
of the
B30 Standard and federal, state and local requirements."
Among other methods, one feasible and acceptable abatement method to
correct this hazard is
that the employer should require all subcontractors who operate equipment
at the GC's
construction sites to provide certification of training of each operator
for each piece of equipment
to be used and to require each operator to demonstrate competancy to the
site superintendant for
each specific piece of equipment.