OSHA Inspection: THE ZIMMERMAN AGENCY

Issued

2014-12-03 00:00:00

Abate by

2014-12-30 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $6300.00 · Current $6300.00

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 serious head injuries while operating all-terrain vehicles (ATVs) without requiring the use of protective helmets:  (a)The Zimmerman Agency @ 4410 CR 209 DeBeque, CO 81630: On or before June 6th, 2014 the employer did not ensure employees were required to wear protective helmets when operating ATVs on a guided tour at the Kessler Canyon Ranch.  During the tour, an employee driving a Polaris Sportsman 400 ATV went off of the trail, down an embankment, and overturned the vehicle which resulted in the employee suffering fatal head injuries.  The condition of operating an ATV without requiring a protective helmet exposes employees to head injuries.   Abatement Note: Among other methods, one feasible and acceptable abatement method to correct this hazard is to follow the manufacturers written Operation Warnings: Polaris Universal Owners Safety and Maintenance Manual ATV 2001  Page 17: "Operating without an approved helmet increases your chances of severe head injury or death in the event of an accident...Always wear an approved helmet".