OSHA Inspection: WESTFALL STEVEDORE COMPANY

Issued

2002-07-08 00:00:00

Abate by

2002-07-11 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $1125.00 · Current $1125.00

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 the employer
allowed operation of a traveling ship mounted crane from which the
operator did not have clear
vision of personnel on the deck who may be exposed to the hazards of crane
movement and
cargo operations:
(a)On the starboard side of the Ibis Arrow in the area of hatch number 7,
there was no
hatch tender to ensure safety of employees working in the vicinity of the
traveling ship
mounted crane.  A hatch tender was necessary to provide instant signals to
the crane
operator where workers were exposed to the hazards of the crane.  The
crane
operator
was physically located where he could not see the areas in front of or
behind the
traveling legs of the crane.
One feasible and acceptable method of abatement is to provide hatch
tenders in all
instances where a crane operator is prevented from clear visibility of the
areas
surrounding traveling cargo handling gear.  (Reference Pacific Coast
Marine Safety
Code, 1999 Revision, ILWU-PMA, Section 7.)