OSHA Inspection: ALL INDUSTRIAL SERVICES, INC.

Issued

Dec 24, 2003

Abate by

Dec 28, 2004

Penalty

Initial $3,500 · Current $2,500 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 employee(s)
were exposed to the hazard of being struck by a two inch diameter wire
rope
(sling).
(a)On June 28, 2003, an excavator operator engaged in demolition
operations using a
hydraulic excavator pulled several steel beams in an attempt to topple a
seven story
structural steel building by attaching two inch wire rope slings to the
structures' steel
columns. The wire rope slings were then grasped with a shearing attachment
on the
excavator. The excavator operator, using the hydraulic arm and the weight
of the
excavator would put a stress load on the wire rope slings and excavator,
causing the rear-
end of the excavator to lift off of the ground, exposing the operator to
the potential of
longitudinal tipover or rollover of the excavator.  These actions cause a
stress condition
on the wire rope slings which could cause them to break creating a
whipping action that
could strike a bystander or the operator within the excavator cab.
Among others, one feasible and acceptable abatement method to correct this
hazard
is to comply
with the wire rope sling manufacturers' manual: Marine Rigging, Inc.,
which warns:  Avoid
shock loading wire rope slings.  Also, the Komatso Hydraulic Excavator
Manual state:  When
pulling with a chain or cable, take up the slack slowly to avoid jerking.
A chain or cable
which fails under load can whip and cause serious injury.  Stand Clear.
Do not pull or tow
unless the operator's compartment is guarded against or out of reach of a
whipping chain
or cable.ng

Issued

Dec 24, 2003

Abate by

Dec 28, 2004

Penalty

Initial $4,900 · Current $4,000 Reduced