OSHA Inspection: CRANE & CO., INC.

Issued

Feb 23, 2004

Abate by

Mar 27, 2004

Penalty

Initial $3,150 · Current $1,575 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 recogn
ized hazards that were causing or likely to cause death or serious physical harm
in that employees were exposed to crushing and struck by hazards during rag bal
e opening operations: a) BYRON WESTON MILL;RAG ROOM : DURING RAG BALE OPENING OP
ERATIONS, EMPLOYEES ARE EXPOSED TO CRUSHING AND STRUCK-BY HAZARDS DURING THE TIM
E THAT THE BALES ARE INTENTIONALLY LOOSENED IN THE FORK TRUCK'S CLAMP ATTACHMENT
FOR THE PURPOSE OF REMOVING THE BALES RETAINING WIRES. ON 01/09/04 AN EMPLOYEE
WAS SERIOUSLY INJURED WHEN A RAG BALE IN THE FORK TRUCK'S CLAMP ATTACHMENT FELL
OUT AND STRUCK A WORKER AFTER THE CLAMP WAS LOOSENED FOR THE PURPOSE OF REMOVING
THE WIRES. AMONG OTHER METHODS, ONE FEASIBLE MEANS OF CORRECTING THIS HAZARD WH
ICH WOULD MINIMALLY CHANGE THE EXISTING PROCEDURE AND AFFORD A GREATER LEVEL OF
PROTECTION WOULD BE TO TEMPORARILY SECURE THE RAG BALE TO THE SQUEEZE CLAMPS WIT
H A NYLON BELT STRAP(S) PRIOR TO LOOSENING THE CLAMPS FOR WIRE REMOVAL.G

Issued

Feb 23, 2004

Abate by

Mar 11, 2004

Penalty

Initial $1,625 · Current $813 Reduced