Text For Citation: 01 Item/Group: 001 Hazard: STRUCK BY

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: Employees were exposed to the hazard of being struck by the elevator car on the first floor while working in or operating the elevator when first floor shaft way door was open. Employees were exposed to being struck by the car descending from the first floor, in an opening to the shaft way, where there was no shaft way door in the basement. They were also exposed to falling into the freight elevator shaft on the first floor. The elevator could only be operated with the first floor shaft way door open by an electrical pendant switch which was inside of the shaft. The employer had failed to obtain the necessary New York City Building Department Permits when causing the elevator to be built on the premises. The employer failed to insure that the freight elevator was equipped with the safeguards for elevators. The safeguards were required by the building code R.S. 18, of the City of New York. The requirements for safety devices on elevators are reflected in ASME A-17.1 and A-17.3 standards. ABATEMENT: Among others, a feasible and practical means of abatement would be to install all of the NYC Building Code requirements for elevators contained in chapter R.S. 18, of the New York City building code. The code required elevator safeguards are mirrored in ANSI/ASME A 17.1 and A 17.3.