Text For Citation: 01 Item/Group: 001 Hazard: STRUCK BY

Section 5(a)(1) of the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970: The employer did not furnish to each of his employees 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 the hazard of being struck by spinning and/or swinging prestressed piles or adjacent standing piles which could be knocked over as they were working within a cofferdam: (a) On or about April 17, 2006 - Employees were exposed to being struck by prestressed concrete pilings in a cofferdam that was attached to the load line of a 75 ton Linkbelt crane. Employees would make a 4 inch deep cut around the 18 inch diameter pile and then attach crane rigging to the top side of the pile and finish breaking it off using the crane. The employees remained within the cofferdam, exposing themselves to being struck by spinning and/or swinging piles or struck by other pilings still standing within the cofferdam, which could be knocked over by the suspended pile. Among other methods, one feasible and acceptable method for abatement is to not allow employees to remain in the cofferdam when the piles are broken off. ABATEMENT CERTIFICATION AND DOCUMENTATION REQUIRED