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 crushed/stuck will under the moving passenger elevator shaftway due to the fact that the elevator pit door interlocks were inoperative as a result of being bypassed: Location: 97 Amity Street, Brooklyn, N.Y. On or about December 20, 2001 a)Crab Hole: Elevator Pit - Employees enter the elevator pit to retrieve items which have fallen from passengers travelling on the elevator. The elevator pit door switch and/or interlock was taped closed with black electrical tape so that the elevator could operator/run with the door in the open position. Among other methods, one feasible and acceptable method to correct this hazard is to comply with the American National Standard Safety Code for Elevator Dumbwaiters Escalators and Moving Walks stipulated by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) - ANSI A17.1971. Among other methods, one feasible and acceptable means of abatement to correct the hazard, are, but not limited to the following: 1.Section 1002 - Maintenance, Rule 1002.4 - Making Safety Devices Inoperative: No person shall at any time make any required safety device or electrical protective device inoperative, except where necessary during tests, inspections, and maintenance, such devices shall be restored to their normal operating condition in conformity with the applicable requirements (See Rule 210.7). 2.Inspect all elevators interlocks and/or switches on a daily basis for objects used to bypass the interlocks and remove items found. 3. Instruct Employees on the dangers of bypassing the elevator interlocks and or switches. 4.Enforce and comply with ANSI A17.1-1971 and/or ASME A17.3-1993,1996. NOTE: BECAUSE ABATEMENT OF THIS VIOLATION IS ALREADY DOCUMENTED IN THE INSPECTION CASE FILE, THE EMPLOYER NEED NOT SUBMIT CERTIFICATION OR DOCUMENTATION OF ABATEMENT OF THIS VIOLATION AS NORMALLY REQUIRED BY 29 CFR 1903.19.