OSHA Inspection: SCOTT CONTRACTORS INC.

Issued

Sep 9, 2011

Abate by

Sep 14, 2011

Penalty

Initial $2,975 · Current $2,795 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
were exposed to falling from/struck by the excavator components while
riding the loader bucket
to be lowered inside the excavation:
a) While digging an excavation, on about 4313 Rising Sun Ave,
Philadelphia, PA. An employee
was observed climbing inside a bucket, and was lowered into an excavation
from a suspended
position of approximately 9' above the bottom of an excavation by a
Komatsu 160 LCE 407
model excavator, to measure the space under a horizontal pipe inside an
unprotected trench.
NOTE: AMONG OTHER METHODS, FEASIBLE MEANS OF ABATEMENT COULD
INCLUDE, BUT MAY NOT BE LIMITED TO: 1) Follow the Komatsu safety manual
which
warns: "Never let anyone ride on the work equipment or other attachments.
There
is a hazard
of falling and suffering serious injury" 2) Follow the association of
equipment manufacturers
(AEM) safety manual for operating and maintenance personnel-Hydraulic
excavator dated 02/03,
which states on page 20 "Warning: Never use a bucket for a work platform
or personnel carrier.
3) Follow NIOSH Publication No. 2004-107 ,"Preventing Injuries When
Working with
Hydraulic Excavator, and Backhoe Loaders" which states, "Never permit
workers to ride in or
work from excavator or backhoe loader buckets."