OSHA Inspection: GILBERT CENTRAL CORP

Issued

Jan 16, 2007

Abate by

Nov 1, 2007

Penalty

Initial $5,000 · Current $5,000

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 physical harm to employees in
that employees were
exposed to:
On or about September 8, 2006, and at times prior thereto, employees were
exposed to
the hazards of being crushed by, struck by and falls from the Blaw-Knox
RW-195 road
widener, Serial No. 05000-013, in the following instances:
(a)while riding on the deck or hood portion of the Blaw-Knox RW 195 road
widener
where no seat was provided.  The practice of allowing riders other than the
operator is prohibited in the owner's manual for the Blaw-Knox RW-195.
Among other methods, one feasible and acceptable method to abate this is
strict
enforcement of a policy prohibiting passengers from riding on vehicles not
equipped with
proper seating.
(b)while moving from one location to another, the Blaw-Knox RW-195 road
widener
descended down a hill in high gear on a slope at times greater than 6
percent.
The operator lost control of the road widener, the brakes failed to slow
the
descent of the vehicle and the drive shaft twisted out and fell to the
pavement as
the vehicle progressed down the hillside.
Among other methods, one feasible and acceptable method to abate this is
strict
enforcement of the operators manual which states under the heading, "Safe
Operation of
Your Road Widener, Item #16, "Shift to Pave (low) or Intermediate Range on
grades in
excess of 6 percent, up or downhill.