OSHA Inspection: SUBURBAN DISPOSAL INC.

Issued

Apr 15, 2004

Abate by

Apr 20, 2004

Penalty

Initial $4,000 · Current $1,000 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 a falling/crushing hazard:
On March 4, 2004, at approximately 12:15pm, a Suburban Disposal/Roselle
Truck # 50 (with
NJ License Plate # X43-S23) was observed traveling on streets including
West 5th Street,
Avenue C, West 6th Street, Kennedy Boulevard and West 7th Street in
Bayonne, NJ: Four
loaders were riding the rear riding steps of the truck holding onto 1 grab
handle each (two men
on each side of the truck) while the truck traveled at approximately 20
mph and a distance
approximately 1/2 of a mile. The steps are designed and installed to
safely accomodate 1 worker
at a time, utilizing the two grab handles which are designed so the
employee can hold a grab
handle with each hand for stability while the truck is in motion.
Feasible and acceptable means of abatement include but are not limited to:
1) Giving operators of waste collection vehicles equipped with riding
steps responsibility to
ensure that no persons ride on steps when the vehicle is exceeding 10
miles per hour or when
the distance traveled exceeds 2/10 of a mile;
2) Monitoring the employee's operation of equipment and taking appropriate
action to ensure
proper use of the equipment, including adherence to safe practices: i.e.
riding the step;
3) Providing for instruction and training of employees in safe methods of
work before assigning
them to operate, clean service, maintain, or repair the equipment. Such
instruction and training
shall include procedures provided by the manufacturer, the employer shall
maintain records of
the names of employees trained and dates of training.
Reference:
1) ANSI Z245.1 1999 Mobile Refuse Collection & Compaction Equipment Safety
Requirements,
Section 6.
2) 2001 Manual of Recommended Safety Practices Environmental Industry
Associations - Section
5.3 Collection Crew Safety