OSHA Inspection: GOODYEAR PROVING GROUNDS

Issued

Feb 19, 2003

Abate by

Feb 25, 2003

Penalty

Initial $3,500 · Current $1,750 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 vehicular collision in that:
a)  On or about 09/05/02, an employee was operating a straight truck which
the employer
had modified to accept a 5th wheel.  This 5th wheel is used to attach a
trailer to  the truck.  The
truck originally did not come with a 5th wheel from the manufacturer.  The
suspension of this
particular truck was typical of a dump truck.  The high suspension of this
truck made the height
of the 5th wheel incompatible with the trailer.  When the trailer was
mounted to the 5th wheel
it was jacked up at an angle.  This incompatibility created a hazard of
the trailer becoming
detached from the truck.  Also the 5th wheel was mounted at the rear of
the frame.  The 5th
wheel is normally mounted closer to the front drive axle or in between
both drive axles.  The
mounting position of the 5th wheel created poor weight distribution.
Among other methods, one feasible and acceptable abatement method to
correct this
hazard is to use a truck that was designed to have a 5th wheel attached.
The height of the 5th
wheel must be compatible with the trailer being attached to the truck and
the mounting position
of the 5th wheel must be selected for optimum weight distribution.

Issued

Feb 19, 2003

Abate by

Feb 25, 2003

Penalty

Initial $3,500 · Current $1,750 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 tire blow-out in that:
a)  On or about 09/05/02 the employer assigned an employee to drive a
truck with
defective and incompatible front steering tires.  The front steering tires
had been on the truck
for approximately eight years.  The tires were weathered, dry rotted and
cracked.  The tires
were super single instead of dual.  Because of singles being used as
steering tires the employer
had to use special mounting lugs.  This incompatibility and dry rot
condition of the front steering
tires created a hazard of the possible blow out.
Among other methods, one feasible and acceptable abatement method to
correct this
hazard is to use steering tires that are designed for the truck and road
conditions and that are
free from defects such as dry rotting and cracking.s

Issued

Feb 19, 2003

Abate by

Feb 25, 2003

Penalty

Initial $3,500 · Current $3,500

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 poor vehicle maintenance:
a)  On or about 09/05/02 the employer assigned an employee to drive a
truck on the
private test track versus over the public road.  The truck did not meet
the Department of
Transportation (DOT) Federal Motor Carriers Safety Regulations and
therefore would not have
been allowed on the road.  The DOT inspection check list is a federal
Regulation and failure to
meet or exceed the requirement exposes the driver and vehicle to numerous
safety hazards
including but not limited to:
Among other methods, one feasible and acceptable abatement method to
correct this
hazard is to ensure that the vehicle met all of the DOT requirements
before
the vehicle is
authorized to drive, either on the Test track or over the road.  Some of
the areas that the truck
was deficient were:
1)  The steering wheel had unusual play in the steering, as much as a 1/4
turn.
2)  The steering tires were the wrong type and ewre worn.
3)  One of the head lights was not functioning.
4)  The rigging of the trailer brakes was makeshift.
5)  The Coupling device weld/ frame had cracks.
6)  The trailer did not seat completely in the coupling device (Fifth
wheel) due to the
height of the suspension of the truck.
7)  The mounting of the front steering tires and rim were defective in
that the mounting
lugs were the wrong type and had to be modified.
8)  The drive line in that the trailer was attached to the truck at an
unusual angle.l