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 the hazard of falling from an elevation or being caught in the operating mechanism of the forklift while working from a wooden pallet raised on the forks of a forklift truck. a) On or about January 14, 1999, an employee who was repairing an air leak at the ceiling level used a wooden pallet on the raised forks of a forklift truck as a work platform. The pallet measured approximately 35-1/2 inches by 45-3/4 inches. The surface of the pallet did not provide a suitable and stable surface on which to stand. The surface consisted of a 3-1/2 inch board on either end of the pallet, and three pairs of 3- 1/2 inch boards between the end boards. The 4 openings between the boards were 3-1/2, 4-1/2, 5-1/2, and 5-1/2. The surface of the boards did not provide a flat and non-slip surface. The pallet did not have a guard rail to protect the employee from falling, nor was the employee tethered. b) The pallet was not secured to the forks of the forklift truck to provide stability, and to prevent it from moving on the forks or tilting from side to side. c) The employee was not protected from the exposed chain and sprocket mechanism on the mast that elevates the carriage. Among others, one feasible and acceptable method of abatement is the use of a commercially manufactured safety basket that is specifically designed for use on fork lifts and meets the requirements of ANSI Standard B56.1-1975. Abated. No documentation required.tion