OSHA Inspection: MARSHALL COUNTY-MAINTENANCE

Issued

Mar 21, 2007

Abate by

Mar 29, 2007

General-duty citation text

T.C.A. 50-3-105(1):  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:
(a)  IDENTIFY THE HAZARD(S):  DESCRIBE THE CONDITIONS OR PRACTICES
WHICH ARE CREATING THE HAZARD.  IDENTIFY THE SPECIFIC OPERATION
INVOLVED AND LOCATION.  PROVIDE ONE ABATEMENT METHOD WHICH IS
ACCEPTABLE TO CORRECT THE HAZARD.  THE STATEMENT WOULD READ:
"AMONG OTHER METHODS, ONE FEASIBLE AND ACCEPTABLE ABATEMENT
METHOD TO CORRECT THIS HAZARD IS . . . "
On February 12, 2007 employees were removing tree limbs along the
roadside.  The Marshal
County Highway Department permitted and directed these employees to work
out of a front-end
loader and cage without sufficient warning as to the hazards involved.
Neither the loader nor
the cage was specifically designed by the manufacture for such use.  A
means of fall protection
such as a body harness and lanyard were not provided for the employee
suspended 15 feet in the
air.  The top rail of the cage was only 32 inches high which did not meet
the standard guard rail
requirement of 38 inches. No toe board was installed on the cage to
protect employees on the
ground from falling debris.  No training was provided to employees working
on the elevated
platform.  These unsafe work procedures could result in substantial
probability of death or
serious physical injury.
One feasible abatement method, among others includes:
Develop written procedures for trimming trees that include the use of
approved equipment;
worksite analysis; hazard prevention and control; and the personal
protective equipment
required, such as wearing fall protection.
Use an approved method for lifting employees to trimming trees such as a
bucket truck.  This
would allow the employee to work safer by getting above the tree limbs and
cut these limbs in
smaller pieces.
Train Managers, Supervisors and employees to recognize the hazards and
potential hazards of
tree trimming and how to eliminate and/or control these hazards.
Monitor to ensure employees are provide a safe place to work and employee
are following your
safety rules, including the safety rules written in the Equipments' Owners
Manual.
ABATEMENT VERIFICATION REQUIRED

Issued

Mar 21, 2007

Abate by

Mar 29, 2007

Issued

Mar 21, 2007

Abate by

Mar 29, 2007

Issued

Mar 21, 2007

Abate by

Mar 29, 2007

Issued

Mar 21, 2007

Abate by

Mar 29, 2007

Issued

Mar 21, 2007

Abate by

Mar 29, 2007

Issued

Mar 21, 2007

Abate by

Mar 29, 2007