OSHA Inspection: PUBLIC SERVICE ELECTRIC & GAS

Issued

Nov 22, 2010

Abate by

Jul 1, 2011

Penalty

Initial $5,000 · Current $5,000

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 tipping and/or fall hazard.
a)Coal pile, approximately 70' above ground surface.
Employees working as heavy equipment operators and tasked with pushing
coal were exposed
to the hazards of tipping and/or falling into cavities or voids created
when open hoppers are
feeding coal to the tunnel system.  Work site was not equipped with
markings, signals or
other devices for the purpose of accurately locating the open hoppers.  In
addition, the lack
of adequate illumination on the coal pile increased employee exposure by
operating heavy
equipment in close proximity to an open hopper.
This condition occurred on or about 5/24/2010.
ABATEMENT NOTE:  Among other methods, one feasible and acceptable method to
correct this hazard is to:
1:  Indicate the location of hopper feeder points with overhead markers or
other suitable
indicator systems as referenced in the employer's Bulldozer: General &
Stockpile Safety
Handbook.
2:  Have adequate illumination at night as referenced in the employer's
Bulldozer: General &
Stockpile Safety Handbook.  Adequate illumination must include repairing
or replacing lights
that are out of service, additional lighting that is not impacted by the
height of the coal pile,
and lighting on heavy equipment that illuminates each side.
3:  Train the heavy equipment operators on the employer's Coal Pile
Operations Procedure
(HUD-OP-506) revised on 6/1/2010.
4:  Utilize and adhere to the procedures established in the employer's
Coal
Pile Operations
(HUD-OP-506), and to the Stockpile Safety best practices referenced in the
employer's
Bulldozer: General & Stockpile Safety Handbook for preventing stockpile
accidents.