OSHA Inspection: PRAIRIE STATES TRUCKING, INC.

Issued

2020-12-11 00:00:00

Abate by

2021-01-08 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $5735.00 · Current $4735.00 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1926.200(g)(2): Traffic control signs or devices used for protection of construction workers did not conform to Part VI of the Manual of Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD"), 1988 Edition, Revision 3, September 3, 1993, FHWA-SA-94-027 or Part VI of the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices, Millennium Edition, December 2000, FHWA, which are incorporated by reference:  (a)Prairie States Trucking, Inc.  at West of Ellis Road on SD Hwy 42, Sioux Falls, SD 57104: On or about and at times prior to July 8, 2020, the exposing employer did not ensure an employee was protected from struck-by hazards as a result of working in live lanes of bi-directional traffic while wearing a backpack covering high-visibility safety apparel.  An employee was tasked in removing temporary traffic control devices or tubular markers from the centerline and pulling them to the edge of the road when he was struck by a semi-truck and seriously injured. The employee was wearing a backpack over high visibility safety apparel. This condition exposed the employee to a struck-by hazard associated with vehicular traffic involving a bi-directional road.

Issued

2020-12-11 00:00:00

Abate by

2021-01-08 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $9446.00 · Current $7000.00 Reduced

General-duty citation text

1926.20(b)(2) 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 an employee was working alone and exposed to struck-by hazards while moving cones in live lanes of traffic:  (a)Prairie States Trucking, Inc.  at West of Ellis Road on SD Hwy 42, Sioux Falls, SD 57104: On or about and at times prior to July 8, 2020, the exposing employer did not ensure an employee was protected from struck-by hazards as a result of working alone in live lanes of bi-directional traffic. On July 8, 2020, an employee tasked in removing temporary traffic control devices or tubular markers from the centerline of a rural road was struck-by a 2018 Kenworth semi-truck and seriously injured. The employer did not implement safe methods for the removal of temporary traffic control devices. This condition exposed an employee to struck-by hazards associated with bi-directional vehicular traffic in the live lanes of the roadway.  Abatement Note: Among other methods, one feasible and acceptable abatement method to correct this hazard is to eliminate struck-by hazards related to exposure to active vehicle roadway traffic during the installation and removal of traffic control devices is to follow guidance established in August of 2008 by the American Traffic Safety Services Association (ATSSA) Pocket Guide entitled, "Field Guide on Installation and Removal of Temporary Traffic Control for Safe Maintenance and Work Zone Operations." The field guide outlines specific steps and safety information to remove traffic control devices in the work zone:   1. Remove devices from the Termination Area against the flow of traffic. Use of a Truck-Mounted Attenuator (TMA) on the lead vehicle or shadow vehicle is recommended, where applicable, during removal: 2. Remove devices from the Activity Area against the flow of traffic; a. Make sure Work Space is clear and cleaned before removing devices. b. Remove devices from the Buffer Space. 3. Remove devices from the Transition Area against the flow of traffic; and  4. Remove advance warning signs in the Advance Warning Area against the flow of traffic. Remove the first advance warning sign last.