OSHA Inspection: HANSEN LANDSCAPE AND TREE

Issued

Oct 8, 2010

Abate by

Oct 18, 2010

Penalty

Initial $1,500 · Current $1,500

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 is free from recognized
hazards that were
causing or likely to cause death or serious physical harm to employees due
to unsafe work
practices associated with tree removal work using a Bobcat S185, Skid
Steer.
At the site:
Instance 1:
On or before September 28, 2010, an employee was exposed to injury when he
was cutting a
tree stump from the elevated forks of the Bobcat S185, Skid Steer with a
Husqvarna chain saw,
which exposed the employee to a fall hazard of approximately 3 feet.
Among other methods, one feasible and acceptable abatement method can be
found in SAE J153,
Surface Vehicle Recommended Practice, Section 4.3 Operator-General
Precautions,instructs
operators: "Do not permit riders on the machine if there are no
manufacturer's designated place
for the rider." In addition, Operator Instructions state: "Never use
loader as man lift or as
elevating device for personnel." The employee could have used the spikes
and lanyard or an
approved man lift to reach the cut.
Instance 2:
Operator of the Bobcat S185 Skid Steer loader left the operator controls
with the arms of the
skid steer in the raised position exposing the operator to crushing
hazards, between the arms and
cab, when climbing back into the operator's cab if inadvertant contact
with controls occurs.. The
operator was not trained to properly operate the skid steer loader by the
employer and did not
follow the instruction decals located on the skid steer loader and
information in the operator's
manual.
Among other methods, one feasible and acceptable method to correct this
hazard is to follow the
instructional decals located on the skid steer loader and follow the
Operator's Manual for the
Bobcat S185, Skid Steer, for employees to stay in the operator's cab while
the vehicle is running
or the arms are raised. In addition, all employees that operate the Bobcat
S185, Skid Steer
should receive training prior to operating the machine per the Operator's
Manual.
Instance 3:
On September 28, 2010 an employee was exposed to laceration and amputation
hazards due to
contact with the unprotected blade of a chainsaw. The employee was
operating the saw above
shoulder height because he was not at a sufficient elevation on the raised
forks of the Bobcat
S185, Skid Steer. This  caused an unstable and awkward standing position.
Among other methods, one feasible and acceptable means of abatement would
be to ensure
employees are at a sufficient elevation with approved man lifts or
climbing spikes and lanyards.
In addition, the employer should ensure that employees use chainsaws with
two hands at alltimes, and not operate the saw with it above shoulder
height, as directed by the operator's
manual.

Issued

Oct 8, 2010

Abate by

Oct 18, 2010

Penalty

Current $750

Issued

Oct 8, 2010

Abate by

Oct 18, 2010

Issued

Oct 8, 2010

Abate by

Oct 12, 2010

Issued

Oct 8, 2010

Abate by

Nov 9, 2010

Penalty

Initial $300 · Current $150 Reduced