Caught-In-Between Hazards Module 5 Caught-In-Between Hazards

Some Causes of Caught-in-Between Fatalities Trench/Excavation Collapse Rotating Equipment Unguarded Parts Equipment Rollovers Equipment Maintenance Rigging accidents

Top Caught-in-Between Citations (FY 2005) Excavations - General Requirements Excavations – Protective Systems Wood Working Equipment Hand and Power Tools Citation statistics from Federal OSHA data for OSHA fiscal year 2005

Subpart P - Excavations and Trenching Objectives Identify OSHA standards List duties of competent person Document inspections Explain how environmental factors affect soil analysis Identify excavation hazards Determine sloping requirements Describe sloping, shoring and shielding In this section we’ll discuss the OSHA standards, the duties of the competent person and how to document inspections. We’ll discuss the concepts of soil mechanics as well as how environmental factors such as rain and snow affect the analysis of the soil. The competent person is responsible for soil analysis. The competent person is also responsible for: Checking for evidence of a situation that could result in a cave-in. Checking for hazardous atmospheres Checking protective support systems

Following are several reports from real fatal accidents as reported by ADOSH. The reports are on file at the ADOSH office and are available on the www.osha.gov website.

Example of Caught-in The employee was attempting to move a scissor lift. Employee was not trained on how to operate the equipment. Plus, the equipment controls were not working as designed, the forward/back joystick being replaced by a toggle switch, the "dead man" foot pedal was not working, emergency stop button had been removed, the platform control panel engine start button was not working, plus a hydraulic problem which would allow the platform to come back down once it was elevated, and possible other problems.

Example of Caught-in (continued) The employee started the machine from the ground controls, and it immediately started moving. The employee was crushed between the moving machine and a concrete wall.

Confined Space Standard All employees required to enter into confined or enclosed spaces shall be instructed as to the nature of the hazards involved, the necessary precautions to be taken, and in the use of protective and emergency equipment required. The employer shall comply with any specific regulations that apply to work in dangerous or potentially dangerous areas.

Could this be a caught-in or crushed-by? OK, this wasn’t in America. I sometimes think I’d put our knuckleheads up against anybody’s, but maybe not. If they had an Olympics for flagrant hazards, we’d be out of the medals if this is the competition. On the plus side, he is wearing a hard hat. Also, if you look carefully at the boulder’s 4 o’clock, you’ll see a plastic drink bottle propped on another rock, so he is also staying hydrated. And maybe that boulder is actually 20 feet long, so that’s just the tip sticking out. Yeah, that’s it. We appropriated this item from our kindred spirits at Safety Soapbox, home of the excellent and always startling “Absolute Shocker of the Week” Would you do this?

Another Crushing - case study This accident occurred at approximately 19:45hrs when a 48-year old victim, a mechanic, was attempting to disconnect a wind row elevator from an asphalt lay down machine. The mechanic accessed the hitch pins from inside the hopper of the lay down machine, upon removal of the second of two pins, the front of the wind row elevator collapsed, pinning the victim between the hopper bed and the wind row elevator. Victim was not found until approximately 45 minutes later. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

(Another) Case Study Employee was assigned by his employer to dismantle a 10' by 20' wooden building. The employee initially removed most all of the siding from the outside of the building and then went inside of the building to remove the wall paneling. During the removal of the wall paneling the building collapsed onto the employee causing fatal injuries.

This is how easy it can happen The owner of the business was salvaging parts from an automobile. he was working underneath the car while it was held up by a forklift. The car was a T-top style, and he had the forks through the side windows so that the car was supported by the "T" section of the roof. The car fell off the forks, possibly from the failure of the "T" section of the roof, and crushed the victim.

Equipment should be checked before you try to use it. REMINDERS… Construction work requires that you to be aware of your surroundings at all times. Equipment should be checked before you try to use it. If the equipment or tools are defective, report it to your supervisor and remove it from service Most of the people in these case studies thought that it couldn't happen to them! Think Safety all the time