OSHA Inspection: JAMES L POWELL

Issued

2003-09-19 00:00:00

Abate by

2003-10-16 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $2100.00 · Current $2100.00

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 employees
were exposed to the hazard of a swarm of bees resulting in multiple bee
stings:
a)  On or about August 8 2003, an employee using a bull dozer with a
canopy was tasked
with clearing brush on the Thompson Ranch when a swarm of bees attacked
him after he
disturbed a nest that was housed inside a mesquite trunk. The employee was
found several hours
later by co-workers and by members of the Schleicher County Sheriff's
Department with
multiple bee stings.
Among other methods, one feasible and acceptable abatement method to
correct this hazard
would be to use a bull dozer or similar equipment with an enclosed cab and
a form of
communication such as a two way radio. The enclosed cab would protect
employees from a
swarm of bees and the two way radio would serve as a method of
communication in the event
of an emergency precluding the need to leave the cab while in remote areas
of
the ranch.
Another abatement method would be to physically survey the field to be
cleared for bees' nests
using the proper protective clothing and hood to protect employee(s) prior
to the commencement
of the brush clearing process.