OSHA Inspection: CORPORATE PERSONNEL SERVICES & TEMPS INC (CPST)

Issued

Jun 27, 2003

Abate by

Jul 2, 2003

Penalty

Initial $4,500 · Current $1,800 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 following condition(s):
a)  For the period of time up to and including 25 Feb 03, employees and
contractor
personnel of the employer were observed without being outfitted with
reflectorized traffic
vests. This condition exposed employees to vehicular hazards and injuries.
Instances:
1. 13 Feb 03 - Crew was collecting residential trash on Behrman Hwy in
Terrytown LA
at approx 0530 hrs. Contractor personnel were working behind the waste
collection
vehicle, wearing dark clothing without wearing reflectorized vests while
collecting trash.
This is a highly travelled roadway with 4 lanes of traffic and a speed
limit of 45 mph.
2. 17 Feb 03 - Crew was collecting residential trash on Holmes Blvd in
Terrytown LA
at approx 0530 hrs (pre-dawn). Contractor personnel (Hoppers) were working
behind the
waste collection vehicle, wearing dark clothing without a reflectorized
vest with vehicular
traffic in both directions with a speed limit of 30 mph.
3. 20 Feb 03 - Crew was collecting residential trash on Ave Mont Martre in
Terrytown
LA at approx 0830 hrs. Contractor personnel and the driver of the waste
collection
vehicle were not wearing reflectorized vests while collecting trash from
both sides of the
street with limited vehicular traffic with a speed limit of 20 mph.
4. 24 Feb 03 - Crew was collecting residential trash on Ave Mont Martre in
Terrytown
LA at approx 0800 hrs. Contractor personnel and the driver of the waste
collection
vehicle were not wearing reflectorized vests while collecting trash from
both sides of the
street with limited vehicular traffic. Driver of the vehicle handed vests
to contractor
personnel that were in the cab of the vehicle upon being observed.
5. The above mentioned crew and others have been observed numerous times
prior in
the Terrytown LA on streets such as Terry Parkway, Carol Sue Ave, and
other side
streets without reflectorized vests or garments.
In accordance with ANSI Z245.1-1999, "Safety Requirements-Mobile Wastes and
Recyclable Materials Collection, Transportation and Compaction Equipment"
Paragraph
6.1.4.1 "Operational Requirements, Employer Responsibilities, Supervision
General" it
states that the "Employer shall be responsible for: Monitoring the
employee's activities
and taking appropriate action to ensure adherance to safe practices and
the employee
requirements of this standard."
Among other methods, one feasible and acceptable abatement method to
correct this
hazard would be to provide or require reflectorized garments of the type
recommended
in the MUTCD that are comfortable enough for the employees/contractor
personnel to
wear for periods of time up to 8 hrs and in various weather conditions.
Employees/contractor personnel should also receive additional training
with regard to the
reasons why reflectorized vests and/or garments should be worn on the job.