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

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: struck-by and fall hazards posed by the condition of the elevators. (a)At the Wilson Building, 1623 Main, Dallas, Texas where the elevators used to transport employees to the various floors of the building failed to meet minimal safety requirements imposed for state licensing. Specific deficiencies included: (1)the brakes on elevator #2 were faulty and in fact failed while the elevator car was occupied. (2)the vision panels in hoistway doors were inadequately covered, permitting employees to insert hands , arms and heads into the hoistway while cars were in travel. (3)the car doors were not equipped with functioning interlocks to assure the car could not move from a landing without the car door closed. (4)appropriate travel control devices, such as a car buffer, were not in the pit of elevator #1 for all periods that the elevator was available for operation and employees were working in the pit area. (Note that while employees were in the zone of car travel and the buffer was not in place, alternate protection through use of a lockout/tagout system was also not in place.) Methods of feasible abatement include, but are not limited to: (1)Repair or replace the elevators such that they meet all state licensing requirements (Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation as required by Chapter 754, Texas Health and Safety Codes, Elevators, Escalators, and Related Equipment). (2)Perform and document Qualified Elevator Inspector (QEI) inspections as required by Section 754.019/ASME 17.1 1000.16 prior to putting the elevators back into service. (3) Develop, communicate and implement a system by which equipment deficiencies are identified, withthose causing failure to meet minimal safety requirements resulting in a stoppage of elevator use and where all applicable employers are notified of the need to keep the elevator out of use until corrective action is completed. The inspections must be made at intervals no longer than 3 months, as required by ANSI A 17.1-1996, Part XIX, Section 1011, Rule 1011.1. (4)Post load ratings in elevator cars, as required by 1926.552(a)(2). (5)Inspect and ensure that all vision panels in hoistway doors are covered by protective grills having openings no wider than 3/4 inch or of 3/4 inch diameter, secured by non-reversible screws or other tamper-proof fasteners, as required by Part XIX of ANSI A-17.1, 1996, Section 1900.6c(1) and Rule 110.7a, paragraphs 8(a), (b) and (c).