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) the hazard of falls in that the employer did not comply with the recommendations set forth by the American National Standard Safety Code for Elevators, Dumbwaiters, Escalators and Moving walks, ANSI A17.1-1971 Section 1001 Rule 1001.1a On or about 5/7/99,an employee was exposed to a 48 foot fall through an elevator shaft while attempting to move furniture. The elevator safety latch, intended to prevent the door from opening on a floor when the elevator car was not present, did not operate properly. This permitted the door to open on the fourth floor while the elevator car was still on the ground floor level. This condition could have been identified and repaired if the employer had complied with ANSI A17.1-1971 Section 1001.1a which requires periodic, but at least annual inspections and testing of all freight elevators. One feasible means of abatement is to have the elevator inspected and tested to insure it is incompliance with the ANSI code.