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 a fall hazard during the course of their employment; the following condition contributed to the existence of this hazard: NB-7 Warehouse Freight elevator Employees were exposed to a fall hazard which would likely cause death or serious physical harm while operating and working around a freight elevator (# 1024-EL) between December 6, 1994 and December 19, 1994 in which the hoistway interlocked door did not close when the elevator car traveled between floors exposing employees to a minimum 15 foot fall into the elevator shaft. This hazardous condition was exemplified through poor housekeeping by the employer in which resin "pellets" spilled by moving stock were strewn on steel plates at elevator shaft opening creating an additional slip hazard. Note: Feasible and acceptable methods to eliminate employee exposure include, but are not limited to: 1) Hoistway interlocked doors must function in their intended purpose by closing when the elevator car travels between floor. An elevator service company must approached to perform necessary repairs to assure that the safety interlocks do not malfunction. 2) At a minimum, daily housekeeping must be performed to assure debris present on floor does not create a slip hazard for employees walking on floors or who are required to operate mechanical devices, such as electric pallet jacks and/or industrial fork trucks