OSHA Inspection: FARMERS CP-OP COMPRESS

Issued

Feb 26, 2008

Abate by

Mar 14, 2008

Penalty

Initial $4,500 · Current $4,500

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 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 the condition(s) listed below:
Farmers Cooperative Compress, 5001 N. FM 1912, Amarillo, Texas. For the
period of time
up to and including January 14, 2008, the employer did not ensure that
employees wore seat
belts while operating a Toyota forklift, serial #78274, model #7FGU25.
Employees operated
the forklifts to transport cotton bales from the loading dock to the
warehouse. One employee
was fatally injured when the forklift tipped over.
This condition exposed employees to caught in between hazards.
Under the ANSI/ASME B56.1 "Safety Standard for Low Lift and High Lift
Trucks" (Safety
Code or Powered Industrial Trucks), Article 5.3.19 states", An active
operator
protection
device or system, when provided, shall be used. Operator protection in the
event of a tip
over is intended to reduce the risk of entrapment of the head and torso
between the truck and
the ground but may not protect the operator against all possible injury.
Under the Toyota Operator's and Owner's Manual, Page 39, Section 111, Know
Your
Truck, Warning! Buckle up. Your seat and seat belt can reduce the risk of
serious injury or
death in case of a truck tip over.
One feasible and acceptable abatement method would be to ensure that
employees who
operates forklift with seat belts are buckling up during forklift
operation.
Note: Abatement certification and supporting documentation are required
for this item.

Issued

Feb 26, 2008

Abate by

Mar 14, 2008

Penalty

Initial $4,500