OSHA Inspection: IDAHO SAND & GRAVEL CO.

Issued

Feb 6, 2007

Abate by

Feb 16, 2007

Penalty

Initial $3,500 · Current $3,500

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 was free from
recognized hazards that
were causing or likely to cause death or serious physical harm to
employees in that
construction site workers were exposed to crushing injuries from being
struck by the elevated
bucket of a front-end loader and/or run over by the loader:
(a)On or about October 18, 2006, and at times prior thereto, the
controlling and
creating employer, Idaho Sand & Gravel, failed to ensure that their
employees
operating the Caterpillar 966F articulating front-end loader traveled the
worksite with the bucket as close to the ground as possible.  Operators
traveled the worksite, near workers on-foot, with the 4-yard loader bucket
elevated thereby seriously limiting the operator's field of view in front
of the
equipment.
Among other methods, one feasible and acceptable abatement method to
correct this
hazard is to maintain a copy of, and train employees on the equipment
owner's
manual including, but not limited to, traveling with the bucket as low and
close to the
ground as possible in order to maintain maximum visibility.  The
Caterpillar
Operation & Maintenance Manual, 966F Series II Wheel Loader states, "For
good
operator vision and loader stability, carry the loaded bucket low,
approximately 40
cm (15 in) above the ground."
Note: Abatement certification and supporting documentation are required
for this item.