OSHA Inspection: ASPHALT SPECIALTIES CO.

Issued

Nov 26, 2004

Abate by

Dec 1, 2004

Penalty

Initial $4,500 · Current $2,700 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 struck by, fall, and caught between hazards:
(a)Asphalt Specialties Co. at 51st Ave. and Tower Rd., Denver, CO 80249:
On November 23, 2004 an employee rode the 5 feet wide bucket of a Cat 345
backhoe from the edge of the excavation out approximately 12 feet to the
top
of a manhole under construction.  This condition exposed the employee to
hazards of a fall of approximately 19 feet, struck by the bucket, caught
in-
between moving parts of the excavator, and struck by the collapsing walls
of
the excavation should he fall from the bucket.
Abatement Note: Society of Automotive Engineer (SAE) J153, Surface Vehicle
Recommended Practice, Section 4.3 Operator - General Precautions,
instructs operator:  "Do
not permit riders on the machine if there are no manufacturer's designated
place
for a rider."
In addition, Section 7.10, Operating Precautions, instructs operators to
never allow anyone to
be under or within reach while the equipment is operating.
Among other methods, one feasible and acceptable abatement method to
correct this hazard
is to follow established company procedures to build the manhole in the
confines of trench
boxes and if necessary to pull the boxes and backfill as the manhole is
built up.
Abatement Note:  Abatement certification is not required for this item.