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

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 fall and crushing hazards: Warehouse building, small and large elevators for all floors serviced by the elevators. Passenger and freight elevator doors operated such that they (could be) opened when the elevator car was positioned on another floor, and while the elevator door was partially open, employees from a different floor could access the elevator and the elevator car would start moving. Among other methods, one feasible and acceptable abatement method to correct these hazards is to equip the doors with interlocks that would not allow the elevator doors to open unless the car is behind the doors, and with interlocks that would not allow the elevator to operate if any of the doors were open. Standards covering the safety requirements for elevators are referenced in the American National Standard Safety Code for Elevators, Dumbwaiters Escalators and Moving Walks, ANSI A17.1-1978, Section III - Hoistway Door Locking Devices, Car Door or Gate Electric Contacts, Hoistway Access Switches, and Elevator Parking Devices, Rules 111.1, 111.2 and 111.3.