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

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 struck by the counterweight or crushed between the working platform (including its associated structures) and the "overhead" in the event of an overspeed condition during the construction of Elevator #4 at St. Patricks Hospital at 501 Owens Street in Missoula, Montana. Among other methods, feasible and acceptable methods to correct this hazard are; 1. Establish a guide rope connection method sufficient to adequately control the counterweight such as: a. Develop tensioning requirements for the guide ropes and provide the necessary tools to measure, adjust, and re-adjust the tension. b. Use more robust turnbuckles. c. Install an additional counterweight guide in the area of the pit. d. Develop a method of warning the employees that the counterweight is approaching the work platform. 2. Take necessary precautions to prevent a fall-up or fall-down of the working platform such as: a. Install a 'trip wire' in the overhead, wired in the elevator safety circuit such that opening the elevator safety circuit will stop the working platform before it can contact the overhead. b. Rope the car with longer than required ropes (GEM/MVS page 23). c. Use a re-calibration "kit" to temporarily lower the governor electrical trip to a maximum of 175 feet per minute. Alternatively, use a 'construction governor' specifically for this purpose. d. Include a brake test in the process to ensure that brakes are working properly. e. To ensure that the weight of the elevator is always more than the weight of the counterweight as shown in the GEM/MVS manual on page 27, correct the inconsistency in the manual on page 26 that, if followed, allows the elevator car to weigh 500 pounds less than the counterweight. 3. Update the process manuals maintained on the job site to reflect the most current construction methods and ensure that employees are trained and supervised to use the propermethods. 4. Develop a checklist to ensure that critical construction items are not missed or forgotten. 5. Install a long bolt in a fish plate hole, facing the elevator, at the top of both rail ends until it's time to install the next rail above to prevent the working platform from coming off the rails. 6. Install unintended movement protection such as the Hollister-Whitney Rope Gripper, activated by the elevator safety circuit to prevent the working platform from moving at a time when employees expect it to be stationary. 7. Update the construction process to include removal of the lubricious protective covering of the rails so that the car safety device will not fail to lock on the rail. __ Abatement certification or documentation is NOT required for this item. x_ Abatement certification is required for this item. __ Abatement certification and documentation are required for this item. __ Warning tag (or citation copy) required on this equipment before moving.