OSHA Inspection: AMERICAN STONE FABRICATORS, INC.

Issued

Jun 16, 2005

Abate by

Aug 6, 2005

Penalty

Initial $2,800 · Current $1,400 Reduced

General-duty citation text

Section 5(a)(1) of the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970: The
employer is not
furnishing employment and a place of employment which is free from
recognized hazards that
are causing or likely to cause death or serious physical harm to employee
in that employees are
exposed to the hazard of crushing injury from unstable natural stone slabs
during slab transport
operations:
a)The employer fails to ensure that proper slab handling techniques are
used to protect
employees from crushing hazards. Employees tasked with removal and
positioning of
granite slabs are exposed to crushing hazards during those operations.
During the
transport operations employees are required to tilt up the slabs to the
verticle balancing
position. These slabs, some weighing in excess of 400 pounds, are stored
on an A-frame
rack, on a flat bed pickup truck. The employees are then required to
balance the slabs
vertically by hand while attaching the slab tongs (pressure gripping
lifters). This is done
while standing in front of the slab in the danger zone.
Among other methods, one feasible and acceptable abatement method to
correct this hazard is
as follows:
a)Institute and enforce a policy in which employees are prohibited from
standing in the
danger zone of unstable and/or hand-supported granite slabs.
b)During stone slab transport operations, employees should lift the slabs
to the vertical
position from the ends so as to be out of the danger zone should the slab
fall. If a
mechanical below-the-hook lifting device is required to be placed on the
slab, the slab
should be mechanically stabilized or should be resting at a slight angle
(not hand-
supported) against the A-frame rack while the lifting device is situated.
A spacer may be
inserted behind the slab to be lifted to provide an open space at the top
to
facilitate
insertion of the mechanical lifting device.
Abatement Note:  Abatement certification and documentation is required for
this item (see
enclosed "Sample Abatement-Certification Letter").
Pursuant to 29 CFR 1903.19, the employer must submit documents describing
the steps it
is taking to ensure compliance, including methods of safe slab handling.
Disclaimer:
1)The employer is not limited to the abatement methods suggested by OSHA.
2)The methods noted are general and may not be effective in all cases.
3)The employer is responsible for selecting and carrying out an
appropriate abatement
method.

Issued

Jun 16, 2005

Abate by

Sep 17, 2005

Penalty

Initial $14,000 · Current $7,000 Reduced

Issued

Jun 16, 2005

Abate by

Sep 17, 2005