Text For Citation: 01 Item/Group: 001 Hazard: FALLING

Section 5(a)(1) of the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970: 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 employees were exposed to: Falling into the elevator shaft from a height of up to 20 feet and being caught between the hoist way wall and elevator car a. On or about 04/26/94 at the Lewis Paper Mill warehouse area; The Otis electric Elevator was not provided with doors and gates interlocked so as to prevent their opening when the cab is not parked at the required elevation. This is to prevent employees from walking into an open shaft and being caught between the car and the edges of the floor landings and/or between the car and the hoistway wall. SOME ACCEPTABLE AND FEASIBLE METHODS OF ABATEMENT AMONG OTHERS ARE: 1. Conduct inspections of the elevator to assure that the doors and interlocking devices are in safe operating condition. 2. Follow the requirements of ANSI/ASME A17.3-1986 sec. 2.7.1(b); hoistway doors for freight elevators shall be equipped with hoistway door interlocks. 3. Follow the requirements of ANSI/ASME A17.3-1986 sec. 3.4.2(a); Cars shall have a car door or gate at each entrance equipped with a car door or gate electric contact conforming to the requirements of this section. 4. Conduct required maintenance procedures described by the manufacturer. Inspect the elevator daily and never operate if it malfunctions or it has broken or damaged parts.