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

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 multiple injuries from falling hazard when employees are elevated on cages, pallets or the forks when used with a powered industrial truck. a) Perishable Distribution Center-Personnel lifting platforms were not secured to the powered industrial trucks lifting carriage and/or forks with safety chain or cable, platforms did not have a guardrail system that included a midrail, the platform was constructed of wood/paper construction and not of sufficient strength to safely support any load imposed on the floor. Employees were exposed to falls of up to 28 feet to the concrete floor. b) Perishable Distribution Center-Employees would ride the forks or use pallets placed on the forks to be lifted up to the picking racks to pick-up cases,bundles,boxes of food that had fallen of off the storage pallets. Employees were exposed to falls of up to 28 feet to the concrete floor. Among other methods, one feasible and acceptable abatement method to correct this hazard is the use of a platform meeting the following requirements: A. The platform shall: 1.be sufficiently strong to support any load(s) which may be imposed on it, 2.be securely attached to the lifting carriage or forks, which shall be secured so they do not pivot upward, 3.be designed so that employees will not be exposed to an ingoing nip point, which can be created between the rear of the platform and the structure of the powered industrial truck, as a platform is raised and lowered, 4.be designed so that personnel on the platform are protected from moving parts of the truck, 5.be horizontal and centered and not tilted forward or rearward when elevated, 6.be moved in a smooth steady fashion when personnel are on it, 7.be moved only when the personnel on it specifically request that it be moved, 8.be moved after it has been elevated, when there are personnel on it, only when there is a need for minor horizontal adjustments, 9.be provided with a fall protection system if it is elevated more that four feet above the walking/working surface or is above or adjacent to dangerous equipment. If a guardrail system is used it shall: a.consist of a toprail, approximately 42 inches in height, a midrail approximately 21 inches in height, and a toeboard if operating conditions necessitate such equipment,b.be provided with a toprail, which will not deflect to less than 39 inches above the platform, when a 200 pound force is imposed on it, c.be provided with a toprail which will not fail when a 200 pound force is imposed on it. 10.be provided with fall protection, at the opening used for access and egress from it, which provides protection equivalent to that of a standard guardrail system, and 11.have a slip resistant surface. B.the truck shall: 1.be operated on a level surface and have firm and level footing, 2.be operated so that overhead obstructions are avoided, 3.be operated so that personnel do not come closer to overhead electric equipment than permitted by OSHA Standard 29 CFR 1910.333, 4.be equipped with overhead protection if operating conditions necessitate such protection, 5.have all operating controls set at neutral and the parking brake set when personnel are on an elevated platform, 6.have a qualified operator at the controls whenever personnel are on an elevated platform, 7.not be moved after the platform has been raised into position, while personnel are on the platform, except when minor horizontal adjustments of the platform must be made, and 8.be loaded to no more than one half the capacity of the truck, as indicated on the nameplate of the truck on which the platform is used. C.signage, per paragraph (c)(3) of OSHA Standard 29 CFR 1910.145, shall be utilized when needed to protect the elevated personnel from injury, D.an effective means of communications between the truck operator and the personnel on the platform shall be provided. (If the noise level is low, this may be done orally.)