OSHA Inspection: VALUE TOWING SERVICE & AUTO RECYCLING

Issued

Mar 5, 2004

Abate by

May 7, 2004

Penalty

Initial $375 · Current $282 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 employees
were exposed to crushing hazards created by working under and/or around
elevated vehicle(s)
that were not supported by a reliable means:
a- Auto salvage yard:  Employee(s) cut free the catalytic converter units
(for salvage) of
wrecked automobiles.  The method used to support a vehicle while
employee(s) worked
beneath it was to place it atop the roofs of two other scrap vehicles
(vans).  This
"makeshift" method is not a reliable means of supporting vehicles for
reasons that include
the following:
1- There are no objective data on which to base assumptions of load-bearing
capacity.
2- All likely points of wear/damage that could lead to failure and loss of
load are
not known, so as to ensure their periodic inspection.
Among the feasible and acceptable alternative methods to abate this hazard
are to lay the
scrap automobile on its side on the ground secured from rolling by
cribbing or chocking,
or to place it on stands which are designed for this purpose.
Condition noted on or about 2/26/2004.