OSHA Inspection: DAL-TILE CORPORATION

Issued

Jan 4, 2010

Abate by

Feb 22, 2010

Penalty

Initial $5,000 · Current $4,000 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 in that:
On or about November 19, 2009, employees lifting and moving multiple slate
or marble slabs
weighing in excess of 1000 pounds apiece by means of an Abaco Lifter
clamping device were
exposed to crushing injuries from falling or slipping slabs while
positioned within the "fall
shadow" of the load being moved.
A feasible and acceptable method of abating this condition would be to
ensure employees are
never positioned within the path or "fall shadow" where falling slabs can
present crushing
injuries as is recommended practice throughout the stone and marble
industry and to ensure that
either only one slab is lifted at a time with the Abaco Lifter clamping
device or that multiple
slabs are tightly combined into one unit and that the slab thickness is
within
the grip range of
the clamping device, both of which practices are recommended by the
manufacturer, Abaco
Machines.