OSHA Inspection: WEED CONTROL INC

Issued

Sep 3, 2013

Abate by

Oct 14, 2013

Penalty

Initial $1,715 · Current $1,201 Reduced

General-duty citation text

40.1-51.1 (a) Code of Virginia:  The employer, Weed Control, Inc., did not
furnish a place of employment which
was free from recognized hazards that were causing or likely to cause
death or serious physical harm to
employees in that employees were exposed to potential electrical hazards
from down power lines that were
energized.
Employees operate a D.B. Smith / Field King Professional S-2 Backpack
sprayer, Model #190328 to apply
herbicide.   Approximately 90of employee's spraying activity is
conducted along electric power right-of-way
lines and within electric substations for power companies.  On July 8,
2013, while spraying herbicide to control
tall-growing woody species along electric power right-of-way lines of
Rappahannock Electric Cooperative off Little
Long Mountain Road in Huntly, Virginia, an employee was injured when the
herbicide spray contacted a 7,200
volt energized distribution power line that was hanging at approximately
5' 5" above the ground.  The insulator
and the power line had become detached from the pole.  Several members of
the spraying crew had already
sprayed by the low hanging energized power line without noticing it.
Employees
have also encountered down
power lines in the past while conducting spraying operations.  Employees
have not received training to recognize
the electrical hazards involved with spraying herbicide in proximity to
overhead power lines.
One feasible and acceptable method of abatement to correct this hazard
would be to:
a.Develop work rules on identifying and preventing hazards associated with
exposure to down power lines;
b.Provide awareness training to each employee to be observant of their
surroundings and the possibility of
encountering down power lines or any component thereof while spraying;
c.Provide education and training to employees on the job-site specific
hazards and precautions to take
associated with their job, including but not limited to, the hazards of
the herbicide spray contacting any
electrical component of an energized line.

Issued

Sep 3, 2013

Abate by

Oct 14, 2013

Penalty

Initial $1,715 · Current $1,201 Reduced

Issued

Sep 3, 2013

Abate by

Oct 14, 2013