OSHA Inspection: SUNRISE LANDCARE, INC.

Issued

Nov 2, 2009

Abate by

Dec 5, 2009

Penalty

Initial $4,900 · Current $3,920 Reduced

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
operating lawn care/landscape equipment in active roadways were exposed to
being struck-by
vehicular traffic:
a)  for employees performing landscape services throughout the Tampa Bay
area and
operating Extreme, Lazer-Z model, commercial lawn mower on active
roadways.  On
or about 06/01/2009 an employee was operating this equipment on an active
roadway in
the Summerfield Community area in Riverview, FL.  The equipment had a
Billy Goat
blower system attached to the front blowing debris material off a main
highway road.
No engineering and/or administrative were in place for the safe operation
of the
equipment in vehicular traffic which resulted in the employee being struck
by
a
commercial truck.
Abatement Note(s): Reasonable and adequate methods to abate this hazard
exist,
and may include, but are not limited to, the following:
1)Engineering Controls:
(a) Eliminate the use of mowing equipment to remove debris material
while traveling in vehicles' way of travel on a highway.
(b) Instruct employees to use portable blowers for the debris cleaning
process while keeping a safe distance from the highway road.
(c) Posting of warning signs to alert vehicle operators of hazardous
conditions and/or to maneuver in the interest of his safety and that of
employees performing landscape activities in the area.
(d) Implement the use of cones and/or company vehicles with warning
device systems such as, but not limited to, visual flashing lighting
systems, to block the areas to be worked on a road.
2)Administrative Controls:
(a) Schedule the debris cleaning activities during times other than the
traffic peak hours for the road area to be cleaned.
(b) Training of employees on the use of lawn mowing equipment in
accordance with the manufacturers Operator's Manual.
(c) Periodic audits by management to ensure employees are not exposed
to highway/road hazards and that they are complying with company's
policy. This to include the implementation of effective progressive
disciplinary action to correct deficiencies.(d) Prohibition of employees
to ride lawn mower equipment in heavy
traffic highways/road areas to perform blowing of debris activities.

Issued

Nov 2, 2009

Abate by

Nov 13, 2009

Penalty

Initial $1,250 · Current $1,000 Reduced

Issued

Nov 2, 2009

Abate by

Nov 6, 2009

Penalty

Initial $1,250 · Current $1,000 Reduced

Issued

Nov 2, 2009

Abate by

Dec 5, 2009

Penalty

Initial $1,250 · Current $1,000 Reduced

Issued

Nov 2, 2009

Abate by

Nov 6, 2009

Penalty

Initial $1,250 · Current $1,000 Reduced

Issued

Nov 2, 2009

Abate by

Nov 6, 2009

Penalty

Initial $2,500 · Current $2,000 Reduced

Issued

Nov 2, 2009

Abate by

Dec 5, 2009

Penalty

Initial $1,250 · Current $1,000 Reduced

Issued

Nov 2, 2009

Abate by

Nov 6, 2009

Penalty

Initial $1,250

Issued

Nov 2, 2009

Abate by

Nov 20, 2009

Penalty

Initial $1,250