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 falls from the improper use of Cougar lifts: (a) Location - Store Aisles: On or about 1/11/00, employees were not aware of the use limitations of the Cougar Lifts, specifically, that only 75 pounds of horizontal force when the lift is fully extended would overturn the lift and did not know what uses could cause that amount of horizontal force. (b) Location - Store Aisles: On or about 1/11/00, employees working on the Cougar Lifts in an elevated position were allowed to remove their fall protection to access the storage racks. Among other means, feasible means of abatement would be to: 1. Design a training program for the Cougar Lifts that includes all aspects of safe operation for all uses within the store which includes a review of the operation manual provided by the manufacturer and a discussion of the warnings included in the manual. This training should address all of the practical uses deemed appropriate for this type of lift specifically related to the needs within the store. 2. Ensure that all managers who supervise employees who use Cougar Lifts receive and understand the same training as the employees who receive the training. 3. Ensure that supervisors use the enforcement programs as set out in the stores safety and health programs for all violations of safety operating practices related to the Cougar Lifts.