OSHA Inspection: RAUSCH COMPANIES, INC.

Issued

Mar 1, 2019

Abate by

Mar 27, 2019

Penalty

Initial $9,282 · Current $6,500 Reduced

General-duty citation text

OSH ACT of 1970 Section (5)(a)(1): 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 crushing injuries related to handling granite slabs:     (a)Rausch Companies, Inc. dba Moda Stone at Shadow Creek at 1507 East 69th Street, Sioux Falls, SD 57108: On or about and at times prior to December 21, 2018, the employer did not ensure that employees worked outside the fall shadow of a granite slab. The employer failed to implement an effective stone/slab handling program which addressed hazard recognition and the steps to take to ensure adequate bracing or stability. On December 21, 2018, two employees were engaged in the process of transferring a slab of granite that weighed approximately 1100 pounds using a Komatsu FB18M-3 forklift with an Abaco slab lifting clamp attachment. As the employees were attempting to attach the granite slab to the lifting device, the slab that was positioned on the A-frame slab rack shifted, causing it to tip over and pin two employees that were within the fall shadow of the slab causing serious injuries. This condition exposed employees to crushing injuries.     Abatement Notes: Among other methods, feasible and acceptable abatement methods to correct the hazards would be to implement the requirements to always walk at the end of the slab and to never walk in the fall shadow of a slab. The fall shadow is the area on both sides of the slab where the slab could land and topple if it were to fall.  The employer should formulate of a plan for stone handling and storage, and provide tools and procedures which can be utilized to safely handle stone. Acceptable abatement methods to correct the hazards would be to follow the steps outlined in the Marble Institute of America Technical Module entitled "Safety in the Stone Business Revised Edition" as well as the OSHA Safety and Health Information Bulletins "Hazards of Transporting, Unloading, Storing and Handling Granite, Marble and Stone Slabs" and "Hazards Associated with Transporting Granite and Marble Slabs".

Issued

Mar 1, 2019

Abate by

Mar 27, 2019

Penalty

Initial $5,304 · Current $2,500 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.178(l)(1)(i): The employer did not ensure that each powered industrial truck operator was competent to operate a powered industrial truck safely, as demonstrated by the successful completion of the training and evaluation specified in this paragraph (l):    (a)Rausch Companies, Inc. dba Moda Stone at Shadow Creek at 1507 East 69th Street, Sioux Falls, SD 57108: On or about and at times prior to December 21, 2018, the employer did not ensure that employees were properly trained and protected from injury associated with using a Komatsu FB18M-3 forklift to lift and transfer slabs of granite weighing approximately 1100 pounds. This condition exposed the employees to the hazard of improper forklift operation.     Abatement Note: Training shall consist of a combination of formal instruction (e.g., lecture, discussion, interactive computer learning, video tape, written material), practical training (demonstrations performed by the trainer and practical exercises performed by the trainee), and evaluation of the operator's performance in the workplace.