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: (a) On or about January 29, 1992, and at times prior to, employees working at Cimpl's, Inc. meatpacking facility in Yankton, South Dakota, were exposed to the hazard of having body parts crushed due to contact with moving elevator component parts or falling into the hoistway when the elevator was not at the upper floor landing. The following conditions constitute violations of ANSI A17.1 elevator codes: 1. The hoistway door on the second level could be opened while the car was absent. 2. The back wall of the car enclosure was less than six feet in height. 3. The back wall of the car enclosure was raised to the extent that it created a ten-inch high opening. 4. The car was not provided with a weight capacity notification. Among other methods, feasible and acceptable methods of abatement to correct the hazards would include: 1. Installation of a positive locking device (interlock) that would prevent the hoistway door from being opened when the elevator is not at the upper landing. 2. Installation of a new back wall in the elevator car ensuring that the new wall is at least six feet in height. 3. Elimination of the ten-inch opening at the base of the elevator car back wall. 4. Installation of a sign or placard within the elevator car that indicates the rated load capacity.