OSHA Inspection: GARDNER CONCRETE PUMPING, INCORPORATED

Issued

Apr 12, 2004

Abate by

May 6, 2004

Penalty

Initial $1,500 · Current $1,500

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
employee(s), in that
employee(s) were exposed to struck by hazards associated with the sudden
drop of an overhead
boom because the concrete pump truck was not set up on a stable surface:
At the project site at 18 Riverview Way, Dennis:  The employer did not
properly assess the site
conditions to determine the presence and/or location of underground
utilities or other
underground encumbrances such as gas lines, electrical conduits, leach
fields, septic tanks and/or
storm drainage pipes.  The employer did not ensure that the concrete pump
truck was stabilized
on a firm foundation before concrete pumping operations began. As a
result, the extended
outrigger on the right front side of the pump truck  penetrated a septic
tank causing the boom
of the concrete pump truck to suddenly drop striking an employee of
another
contractor.  The
sudden loss of stabilization resulted in that employee being struck by the
falling boom.  That
struck employee sustained severe, life-threatening injuries.
Feasible and useful methods of abatement include, but are not limited to:
1.  Conduct a preconstruction site assessment to determine possible
hazards and location
of underground utilities including, but not limited to, gas lines, water
lines, leach field,
septic tank(s) and storm water drainage.
2.  Discuss setup and site conditions with the prime contractor and other
affected
employees before the start of the project.
3.  Talk to the homeowner about the known location of underground utilites
and/or other
possible obstructions.
4.  Secure a copy of the plat from the town that shows property lines in
an effort to
ascertain the possible presence and locations of utilities, rights-of-way
and any other
obstacle that may interfere with the stability of equipment.
5.  Obtain and be cognizant of the information contained in the Code of
Massachusetts
Regulations 520 (520 CMR 6.00, Hoisting Machinery).
6.  Ensure that 520 CMR, 6.00 regulations are followed.