OSHA Inspection: RUHLIN CO.

Issued

Oct 25, 2004

Abate by

Oct 28, 2004

Penalty

Initial $3,000 · Current $3,000

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 harm to employees in that employees were exposed
to:
Employees and State Inspectors were observed working/walking within the
swing radius of a backhoe machine
which was not blocked off or guarded to prevent accidental entry into the
area.
There are at least three methods of abatement for swing excavators:
1.The area surrounding the excavator/track hoe can be guarded with a
barrier guard attached to the vehicle in
such a way that it extends beyond the swinging body/counter weight
preventing entry of workers to this radius of
the machine.
2.Since the trackhoe is often times moving, barricade a designated portion
of the work area where the trackhoe
will be working making the area "off limits" to personnel (i.e.extend the
warning
line 150 feet beyond the
excavator and 10ft. to it's side) eliminating the risk of accidental
contact with employees while being used.
3.Use a safety monitor designated to monitor the immediate area around the
trackhoe while in operation. If this
procedure is to be used, additional training of both the designated safety
monitor and potentially exposed
employees would be required.

Issued

Oct 25, 2004

Abate by

Oct 28, 2004

Penalty

Initial $3,000 · Current $3,000

Issued

Oct 25, 2004

Abate by

Oct 28, 2004

Penalty

Initial $900 · Current $900