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Worker Crushed to Death at New Hampshire
Stone Products Manufacturing Facility
CONCORD, NH – The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has cited Quartz and Stone Creations of New Hampshire LLC. for 12 serious and six other-than-serious violations, following an employee fatality on July 19, 2019.
According to OSHA, the inspection took place after a stone slab fell off a storage rack and crushed the employee. OSHA inspectors cited the Northwood, New Hampshire, stone products manufacturer for:
- Using improperly modified forklifts, which adversely affected their lifting capacity and safe operation;
- Failing to remove defective forklifts from service;
- Inadequate inspections of the forklifts;
- Failing to train employees; and
- Allowing employees to work and pass beneath elevated forklift booms.
OSHA issued additional citations for:
- Inadequate lockout/tagout program;
- Lack of eye protection;
- Electric shock hazards;
- Unguarded machinery;
- Inaccessible emergency exit ladder
- Unmarked or obscured exit signs;
- Uninspected fire extinguisher;
- Lack of silica exposure monitoring; and
- Deficient monitoring records.
Rosemarie O. Cole, OSHA's New Hampshire Area Director emphasized that "Complying with OSHA regulations and manufacturers' recommendations for forklift equipment could have prevented this tragedy. Employers are legally obligated to ensure that the equipment workers use is safe to operate and that hazards within the workplace have been identified and corrected to prevent potentially fatal or disabling injuries."
OSHA's Powered Industrial Trucks page provides detailed information on hazards, safeguards, training, and safe operation of forklifts. OSHA also provides information on hazardous energy control, silica, machine guarding, noise, and eye and face protection.
Quartz and Stone Creations of New Hampshire LLC. has 15 business days to appeal against these citations and penalties.
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Published on: February 10, 2020
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