OSHA Inspection: MORETRENCH AMERICAN CORPORATION

Issued

May 4, 2009

Abate by

May 21, 2009

Penalty

Initial $6,300 · Current $6,300

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 a drowning hazard when operating heavy equipment near
drop-off edges in
unstable soil near bodies of water:
a)County Road 640, Mulberry, FL - For employees operating heavy equipment
on unstable
soil near bodies of water at the former phosphate mine.  Employees are
exposed to a
drowning hazard should the soil break off at a drop-off edge falling into
the water along
with the piece of equipment.
Feasible and acceptable abatement methods, among others, to correct this
hazard include:
Assess conditions at the outset of each job and establish safe working
distances for the
operation of heavy equipment from hazards such as but not limited to water
in mine cuts
and drop-off edges in unstable soil.  Inform employees of the hazards, the
area in which
heavy equipment, such as bulldozers, are not to be operated and visually
demarcate the
area where the heavy equipment is not to be operated.