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 the hazard of being crushed, struck or pinned by falling automobiles: On or about 02/02/99 Location: Garage Area, Roe Park Service Center, 2067 Main Street, Cortland Manor, NY a) The self closing (deadman-type) lift controls were defeated by tieing the oil control in the open position. b) The employees were not trained in the proper use and safe operation of automotive lifts and the safety features of the lift, operating and safety instructions and/or manuals were not available to the employees and/or posted. c) Regularly scheduled inspections and maintenance of the lifts was not performed. AMONG OTHER METHODS, ONE FEASIBLE AND ACCEPTABLE ABATEMENT METHOD TO CORRECT THIS HAZARD IS TO DO THE FOLLOWING 1) Instruct and retrain the employees in the proper use of the manufactures procedures for the safe operation of automotive lifts, including use of all safety features of the automotive lifts. Enforce the proper use of all safety features. 2) Obtain and display the manufactures operating instructions. Implement a safety program that ensures that the safety requirements of the following publications are followed. i) ANSI B153.1 (1990) ¿Safety requirements for the Construction, Care and Use of Automotive Lifts! which includes the following 4.1.3: "The lift control mechanism shall automatically return to the neutral or off position when it is released." 7.1.2: The owner/employer shall maintain and care for the lift to ensure its continued safe operation" 7.2.1: " The owner, user or employer shall display the operating instruction in a conspicuous location in the lift area." 7.2.2: " The owner or employer shall ensure that operators of automotive lifts are instructed in the safe use and operation of the lift using the manufacturer provided instructions and the Automotive Lift Institute publication 'Lifting it Right, SM89-1' and 'Safety Tips' ST90 ii) The National Safety Council Data Sheet 1-437 Rev 70 (Automotive Hoisting Equipment) which includes the following: 16. "The direct control device should be of a type that will automatically return to the neutral or off position upon release by the operator. The 'dead stick' type of control must not be tied, blocked or otherwise secured in the open or operating position." iii) The Automotive Lift Institute publication "Lifting it Right", which includes the following. Page 9: "Do not override self-closing lift controls." Page 16: "Do not block open or override the self-closing feature of the lift controls" Page 20: "Do not block open or override the self-closing feature of the lift controls" iv) The ANSI/ALI standard ALOIM-1994 (Standard for Automotive Lifts - Safety Requirements for Operation, Inspection and Maintenance.) which includes the following. 4.2.2: "ANSI/ALI B153.1-1990 requires the lift manufacturer to supply operating instructions, general safety information, safety tips, and warning labels with each lift manufactured. The owner or employer shall display these materials in a conspicuous location in the lift area." 4.2: "Operator Training Documentation. The owner or employer shall appropriately document operator training by completing the operator training log found in the appendix to this standard." 4.4.2: "The operator shall use all applicable safety features provided on the automotive lift, and operate in accordance with the instructions furnished by the lift manufacturer. 4.4.4: "The lift owner or employer shall take all appropriate steps to follow the recommended inspection procedures of the lift manufacturer, but in no event shall the lift operator fail to inspect or take notice of the following features on a daily basis: 1) accessibility and readability of the operating procedures, safety tips and generic safety material; 2) accessibility and readability of safety warning labels; ... 4) proper operation of the lift controls, restraints and locking device ..." 5.1: "The owner or employer shall establish a periodic inspection procedure in accordance with the recommendations of the lift manufacturer in order to assure the continued safe operation of the lift." 6.1.1: " The owner or employer shall establish a periodic preventive maintenance procedure in accordance with the recommendations of the manufacturer in order to ensure the continued safe operation of the lift. NOTE: The employer is required to submit abatement certification for this item in accordance with 29 CFR 1903.19.