Text For Citation: 01 Item/Group: 001 Hazard: STRUCK BY

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 condition(s) listed below: For the period of time up to and including 03/11/02, at the job-site of Western Steel Buildings, located 3 miles West on Highway 54 and 1 1/4 miles North of Littlefield, TX 79339, employees were exposed to the hazards of being struck-by a collapsing Bi-Fold door. The conditions were created when they operated the opening / closing push-button, remained within close proximity of the door, and a malfunctioning relay in the door raising and lowering control panel allowed the door to raise beyond the upper limit switch. This further allowed the door to strike / pull against it's securing hardware (turnbuckles, eyelet hangers) and caused the catastrophic failure / fall of the door, which resulted in the fatal injury of one employee. Among others, some feasible and acceptable methods to correct these hazards would be to: 1) Ensure the operational status of the Bi-Fold door and it's controls, by establishing routine / regular inspection and maintenance programs, and maintaining a service and maintenance record / log accordingly. (i.e., Daily check list, Monthly Inspection / Operational Test Log, Annual Inspection / Service / Functional Test by certified / licensed / competent outside authority). 2) Install constant pressure door operating controls, and locate them so that employees will be kept at a safe distance from potential struck-by hazards throughout the Bi-Fold door opening / closing cycles. 3) Ensure employees are trained in daily / prior-to-use Bi-Fold door inspections, and safe door use / operations, or replace the horizontal Bi-Fold door with a more conventional type (sliding / vertically folding) door.