OSHA Inspection: PA HEART & VASCULAR GROUP

Issued

Mar 21, 2005

Abate by

Mar 31, 2005

Penalty

Initial $3,500 · Current $2,000 Reduced

General-duty citation text

Section 5(a)(1) of the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970:  The
employer did not furnish
employmnent 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:
a)  Loading Dock Area - A flatbed manual cart loaded with boxes of medical
files was being pulled
down a ramp by an employee.  When the employee lost control of the cart he
was crushed between the
concrete pillar at the end of the ramp and the cart on or about 14 Jan 05.
Among one feasible and acceptable abatement method to correct this hazard
is to use a scissors lift or fork lift
to get the boxes from the top of the ramp to the bottom of the ramp.
Accident Prevention Manual, National
Safety Council, Eleventh Edition, Hand Trucks section, "The type of hand
truck most suitable for the work at
hand should be used.  No one hand truck is suitable for handling all types
of material.  Four-Wheeled Trucks
or Carts should be pushed rather than pulled.  Also that two workers
should
move the vehicle - one to guide
the front, the other to guide the back."  Before any employee is permitted
to use any type of material handling
equipment they should be trained to use it correctly.
Abatement certification required within 10 days after abatement date.
The certification shall include a
statement that abatement is complete, date and method of abatement, and
states employees and their
representatives were informed of this abatement.

Issued

Mar 21, 2005

Abate by

Mar 31, 2005

Penalty

Initial $2,500 · Current $1,000 Reduced