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Laborer Crushed Between Two Large Stone Slabs at a Manufacturing Facility—Massachusetts										Related Pages
										Massachusetts Case Report: 19MA015
Release Date: December 02, 2021

SUMMARY
On May 7, 2019, a 49-year-old laborer was killed while assisting in moving a large stone slab to be stored on an A-frame rack. He was positioned between two A-frame racks, trying to disconnect the slab lifter, when he was crushed between two large stone slabs.
**CONTRIBUTING FACTORS**
Key contributing factors identified in this investigation include:
Not using the slab rack’s safety posts;
Victim position within the fall shadow;
Forklift operator lacked training and state license;
Job hazard analysis for moving stone slabs was not performed;
Standard operating procedures for moving stone slabs were not developed; and
Lack of a safety and health program and overall safety training.**RECOMMENDATIONS**
The Massachusetts FACE Program concluded that, to help prevent similar occurrences, employers should:
Use slab racks designed with fixed safety posts and individual compartments for each slab;
Ensure that employees are never located in the fall shadow of a stone slab while the slab is being accessed to be moved;
Ensure that only employees with the required OSHA training and state license are permitted to operate forklifts;
Ensure that a job hazard analysis is performed for all routine tasks and updated when needed; and
Develop, implement, and enforce standard operating procedures (SOP) for moving, storing, and retrieving stone slabs, which includes ensuring employees are never located in the fall zone.Laborer Crushed Between Two Large Stone Slabs at a Manufacturing Facility—Massachusetts pdf icon[PDF – 775 KB]
							
					
						Page last reviewed:  March 25, 2022					Content source: 	National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health homeWorkplace Safety and Health Topics
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